A HEART OF APPRECIATION
TEXT: PSALM 92:1-5, 95:1-11; 105:1-7, 107:1-31
A common adage says, “Thank you makes room for more”. This implies that when you show appreciation or gratitude for whatever benefit you receive or enjoy on the part of somebody, it makes that person favourably disposed to shower more of such benefits on you.
Now, God has lavished us with His bountiful blessings. We deserve nothing, and He owes us nothing, yet He freely gives us all things. This should provoke in us true heartfelt appreciation.
WHAT IS APPRECIATION?
Appreciation is the expression or giving of thanks or gratitude to the Lord for who He is, for what He has done in our lives, and for what He will yet do for us. Ps. 92:5-8.
Every living soul has a reason to give thanks. A heart of appreciation is a must. Let your heart be lifted unto him in thanksgiving for He is our Saviour and giver of every good thing.
Christ has accomplished all that was needed to be done for us. All we need to do is to offer sacrifice of thanksgiving continually unto Him. This is because thanksgiving is stepping-stone to receiving from God as well as the secret of increase and progress in life.
The sin of ingratitude is worse than a snakebite. Make thanksgiving your way of life.
Why Do We Need To Give Thanks?
a. The Bible commands it. Psalm 150:6
b. It is a good thing. Psalm 92:1
c. It is the will of God for us. I Thess. 5:18.
d. It is an act of making known the goodness of God. Psalm 105:1; 145:8-12.
e. It moves the mighty hands of God in our time of need. Josh. 6:1-5; Acts 16:24-26.
f. It is an expression of our appreciation of who God is in our lives. Psa. 136:1, 23-26.
g. It is a weapon of deliverance in times of war. II Chron. 20:1-5, 13-17, 21-25.
h. It prepares us to receive the miraculous. Hab. 3:17-19.
An acceptable thanksgiving is a conscious and deliberate expression of appreciation and gratitude unto the Lord from a believing and cheerful heart. Jn. 4:23-24.
- HOW TO SHOW APPRECIATION
a. In faith. Lk. 1:38, 45-47; Acts 16:22-25.
b. Continually. Psa. 145:1-2; 146:1-2; 1 Thess. 5:18; Eph. 5:20.
c. In cash or in kind. 1 Sam. 1:21-28; 1 Chron. 21:23-26; Deut. 16:16-17.
d. Music and dance. Psa. 150:3-5.
e. By our lips. Heb. 13:15; Ps. 116:17.
THE RIGHT ATTITUDE
Without the right attitude you cannot get the right result. Therefore thanksgiving should be rendered:
a. Wholeheartedly. Ps. 9:1; 86:12.
b. It should be done cheerfully. Exo. 35:5; 2 Cor. 8:12.
c. Thanks should be offered irrespective of the situation you facing presently. Hab. 3:17-18.
It is good to come before God’s presence with thanksgiving and with a right attitude. This is the sure way to make your offering(s) acceptable to God.
BENEFITS OF GIVING THANKS
It brings about joy because we obey the scriptures. I Thess. 5:18
b. It brings increase. Matt. 15:36-37; Psa. 67:6.
C. It strengthens our faith. Phil. 4:6
d. Thanksgiving ushers us into God’s presence. Psa. 100:4.
e. It provokes God to action. Acts 16:22-26; 2 Chron. 20:22.
F. Giving of thanks brings the presence of God right into your situation. John 6:1-12, 11:32-44.