The Profound Benefits of Thanksgiving

It is November already. The wind-up for Christmas is about to begin. In America, they are also gearing up for the Thanksgiving celebration.

This month, the Lord clearly instructed me to focus on thanksgiving. With joy in my heart, I said yes! Then I asked my heavenly Father why it was such an important issue to him. What are the benefits of thanksgiving?

Out came the scripture. The different passages make it clear that it is an essential part of our walk with him, not because he needs our thanks but because as a Dad, he knows the benefits we receive from having a grateful heart.

What are some of the Benefits of Thanksgiving?

1.  Strengthens our relationship with God

Thanksgiving is not only about acknowledging our blessings but also about recognizing the source of those blessings.

Psalm 100:4 states, “Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name.”

Thanksgiving is a gate we pass through to enter the courts of the Lord. When we give thanks, we draw closer to God, acknowledging His goodness and faithfulness in our lives. Praise follows easily as we lift up his name.

2. Thanksgiving turns our eyes upon Jesus regardless of the season we are in.

The Bible consistently encourages us to give thanks in all circumstances.

As 1 Thessalonians 5:18 says, “Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”

Giving thanks helped me so much when I was in hard seasons. By expressing gratitude regularly, I took my eyes off my suffering and put them on God’s word, character, and promises. I became more aware of his blessings in my life.

3. Thankfulness cultivates joy in our lives.

A thankful heart leads us to enjoy our life more. As we think about who our heavenly Father is and all he has done and is doing in our lives, joy bubbles up from within.

Psalm 95:1-3

1 Come, let us sing for joy to the Lord;

let us shout aloud to the Rock of our salvation.

2 Let us come before him with thanksgiving

and extol him with music and song.

3 For the Lord is the great God,

the great King above all gods.

4. Helps to overcome anxiety and receive peace

Philippians 4:6-7 advises, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

Prayer, petitions and thanksgiving are part of our heavenly Father’s way of helping us to overcome anxiety. These actions allow us to come before him with the things that worry us. He takes our concerns and fills our minds with hope. Hope turns into faith in our hearts. With Faith in our Heavenly Dad, we can receive the peace Jesus gave us. Our minds and hearts can then be full of Jesus, leaving no room for anxiety.

5. Fosters Generosity and Kindness

When we are grateful, we are more likely to be generous and kind to others.

Luke 6:38 reminds us, “Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.”

Thanksgiving opens our hearts to others, encouraging us to share our blessings and spread kindness. This results in more thanksgiving as the people you are generous to express their gratitude.

6. Enhances Our Spiritual Growth

Thanksgiving is a crucial aspect of spiritual growth.

Colossians 2:6-7 states, “So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.”

By consistently practicing gratitude, we deepen our faith and become more rooted in the love of Jesus and our heavenly Father.

Join Me

Join me as I explore the scriptures on thanksgiving daily through November on my Facebook page. Remember to like and follow the page ad to leave your comments.

 https://www.facebook.com/encouragedtopray

Your Comments

 Let me know the benefits you have noticed when you give thanks.

My Blessings and prayers for you

In the name of Jesus I bless you xxx with eyes that see the goodness of God as you go about your day and a heart that is full of thanksgiving and praise as you enter his presence. May you be rooted in the love of Jesus and our heavenly Father.

I bless you xxx with joy, and the desire to shout to the Lord and extol God’s name with music and song, with thanksgiving today.

I bless you xxx with the spirit of generosity so thanksgiving overflows from you to others.