WOODLAND PRAISE

Here in the woods, the trees speak thankfulness. They know God is in control as they wait quietly for winter snows to come. The sun shines through the trees revealing God's faithfulness. They serve as steadfast reminders that God knows who is thankful. Prayerful praise lifted to Heaven doesn't go unnoticed. 

Thanksgiving is here. Do you give thanks? Do you think it matters to God if you do or not? Do you think He keeps track, He being the Great Heart Reader and all?

Look at the time when Jesus Christ, who is God incarnate, went into a village and met ten men who were lepers. The men with leprosy stood afar off and lifted their voices to Jesus saying, “Master, have mercy on us”. Jesus told them to go show themselves to the priests. On their way, they were cleansed. When one of them saw that he was healed, he turned back and glorified God with a loud voice. He fell down on his face at Jesus’ feet, giving thanks. And he was a Samaritan.

And Jesus answering said, Were there not ten

cleansed? but where are the nine? There are

not found that returned to give glory to God,

save this stranger.

Luke 17: 17-18

This simple math lesson to us proves Jesus knows who gives thanks and who doesn’t. The point of importance made by the incarnate Creator is the giving of glory to Him, who is also God the Father. Our Creator, with immeasurable mathematical abilities, never misses an expression of thanks given by any person, small or great, across all time.

Maintaining a spirit of gratitude helps ward off arrogance and self-centeredness. Counting blessings keeps focus on what is had and not on what is not had. Keeping hearts in a right relationship with God staves off bitterness and discouragement. And praising God amidst turmoil is a kind of diversion therapy.

O give thanks unto the LORD;

for he is good:

because his mercy endureth for ever.

Psalm 118:1

and

Give thanks unto the LORD,

call upon his name,

make known his deeds among the people,

Sing unto him,

sing psalms unto him,

talk ye of all his wondrous works.

1 Chronicles 16:8-9

Here are other verses about giving thanks: 2 Chronicles 5:13, Psalm 138:2, Revelation 11:17. Can you find them in your Bible?

Remember to pray with thanksgiving.  
  

Be careful for nothing;

but in every thing by prayer

and supplication with thanksgiving

let your requests be made known unto God.

Philippians 4:6

Those that choose not to thank God are noticed too. Yes, God keeps track of who doesn’t want to give thanks. An ungrateful heart leads to God giving people up (Romans 1:24, 26 and 28). Creation is the Creator’s handy-work.

Because that, when they knew God,

they glorified him not as God,

neither were thankful;

but became vain in their imaginations,

and their foolish heart was darkened.

Romans 1:21

When Jesus was entering Jerusalem and people were yelling out 'Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord!', the Pharisees in the crowd told Jesus to rebuke his disciples. And his reply was:

"I tell you," he replied, "if they keep quiet,

the stones will cry out."

Luke 19:40

‘With such sacrifices, God is well pleased.’ Go for the thing God has clarified that pleases Him. Want to hear “Well done, my good and faithful servant” from Jesus when you cross Heaven’s finishing line because you gave thanks. 

Happy Thanksgiving to you, and the outcome of it…restoration of JOY!