The power of gratitude: Being grateful

1 Thessalonians 5:18 “In everything GIVE THANKS, for this is THE WILL OF GOD in CHRIST JESUS concerning you.” Psalm 107:1 “O GIVE THANKS unto the LORD; for He is good; for His mercy endureth forever.” Psalm 29:1-2 “Give unto the LORD, O ye mighty; GIVE UNTO THE LORD, GLORY AND STRENGTH; give unto the LORD, THE GLORY DUE UNTO HIS NAME, worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness.” Psalm 34:1 “I will bless the LORD at all times, HIS PRAISE SHALL CONTINUALLY be in my mouth.”

The Word of God commands us to GIVE THANKS UNTO GOD for everything He does in our lives. God expects us to appreciate and thank Him for His tender mercies and unmerited kindness. We are expected to always exhibit the ATTITUDE OF GRATITUDE. We can never give thanks to God amiss for His good works in our lives. Ephesians 5:20 “GIVING THANKS ALWAYS for all things unto God and the Father in the Name of our LORD JESUS CHRIST.” GRATITUDE opens the door into God’s presence. Psalm 100:4 “Enter into His gates with THANKSGIVING and into His courts with praise, BE THANKFUL UNTO HIM and BLESS His Name. Gratitude is a spiritual protocol that we must observe. God does not expect 10 percent gratitude. He desires our 100 percent of appreciation and gratitude. Ten Lepers were cleansed, but only one returned and the LORD asked where the other nine were Isaiah 58:14 “Then shalt thou DELIGHT THYSELF in the LORD and I will CAUSE THEE TO RIDE UPON THE HIGH PLACES of the earth and feed thee with the heritage of Jacob, thy father for the mouth of the LORD hath spoken it. Gratitude takes you to a higher level of ALTITUDE. The HIGH PRAISES of God will take you to HIGH PLACES in this life.

For you to migrate to the high places of life, gratitude is a force that will propel you there. Ingratitude breeds stagnation and frustration. The Israelites, who GRUMBLED in the wilderness, also CRUMBLED and died in the wilderness. Ingratitude is very deadly. The more we magnify and appreciate God, the more His Power will be available to lift us up. Don’t ever be an ingrate, who refuses to thank God for what you have already received. Grateful people are always Grace-full. Be THANKFUL and your TANK will be full of more blessings. The LORD is GOOD TO ALL and His tender mercies are overall His works (Psalm 145:9). The LORD is obviously very good to you. He has kept you alive and given to you what money can buy and what money cannot buy. You are a product of His unbridled benevolence and magnanimity. Those who are UNGRATEFUL are “GREAT FOOLS.” Let every thing that has breath praise the LORD.

Thanksgiving and praise are the returns on our breath and living existence on earth. Thanksgiving is the rent we pay on our breath. Don’t OWE God the
RENT on your breath. Praise is indeed very appropriate for the upright. Psalm 92:1 “It is a GOOD thing to GIVE THANKS unto the LORD and to sing praises unto THY Name, O Most High.” Every time JESUS faced high profile challenges, He gave thanks to God the Father despite the embarrassing obstinate situations. He GAVE THANKS to feed thousands of people John 6:11 “And JESUS took the loaves and when He HAD GIVEN THANKS, He distributed to the Disciples.”

He GAVE THANKS to raise the decomposing dead Lazarus back to life. John 11:41 “Then they took away the stone from the place where the dead was laid. And JESUS LIFTED UP HIS EYES AND SAID, FATHER, I THANK THEE THAT THOU HAS HEARD ME.” Give thanks to God and your situation and circumstances will attract Heaven’s attention, intervention and provision. Thank God for the little you have and that little will be multiplied to meet your needs. GRATITUDE will place you on higher ALTITUDE as you enjoy the blessings of a higher PLATITUDE. Romans 4:20-22 “He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief, but was strong in faith, GIVING GLORY TO GOD. And being fully persuaded that, what He had promised, He was able also to perform. And therefore, it was IMPUTED to him for righteousness.” Bless the LORD NOW, and you will experience His presence and goodness. Psalm 103:1 “Bless the LORD, O my soul and all that is within me, bless His Holy Name.”