"Gratitude And Thankfulness Pleases God And Jesus" - Inspirational Weekend

"Gratitude is an offering precious in the sight of God, and it is one that the poorest of us can make and be not poorer but richer for having made it."  -  A.W. Tozer

The quote above is so true.  When things are going badly or I get a little discouraged, all I have to do is remember how God has blessed me in so many ways and when I pray and thank the Lord for His goodness and His blessings, it relieves any negativity that has crept into my thoughts and puts me back on the right track. Worshiping and praising the Lord is the most positive and powerful antidote for any type of upset or discouragement.  It causes me to remember all the ways God has "rescued" me in the past, and that in turn increases my gratitude many times over.  It also increases my faith tremendously to recall His goodness to me in times past, as well as in the here and now.

"God wants to see prayers that are filled with genuine praise and thanksgiving for what He has done in the past.  He wants our hearts to be filled with awe and gratitude for His blessings.  He wants us to set up memorials in our hearts testifying to the provisions He has given us."  -  Michael Youssef

The Bible is full of men of God who expressed their gratitude and thankfulness to their Creator.   Job lost all of his children and all of his wealth and was stricken with painful boils all over his body (all at satan's wicked hand).   Although Job did not realize the evil one was behind all his troubles and pain, still Job had faith in the goodness of God and said at Job 1:21, "Naked came I out of my mother's womb, and naked shall I return thither: the LORD gave, and the LORD hath taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD."  Job was grateful to God and still praised Him in his adversity.

Consider how the apostle Paul was persecuted and all of the hardships that he endured during his ministry and in preaching of the Gospel.   Yet his letters to the churches were full of thanksgiving.  In 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 Paul wrote,  (16) "Rejoice evermore.  (17) Pray without ceasing. (18) In every thing give thanks for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you."

All one has to do is read the Psalms of David to grasp how much he gave praise to God and that he was grateful for all the LORD's provisions and protection and guidance.

"Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, and into His courts with praise: be thankful unto Him, and bless His name." - Psalm 100:4

Consider how Jesus Christ suffered and died at Calvary so that all who believe in Him and in His resurrection may have eternal life. How could we not be grateful for His sacrifice and for the extreme and supreme love He demonstrated in doing so for us!!

"If we comprehend what Christ has done for us, then surely out of gratitude we will strive to live "worthy" of such great love.  We will strive for holiness not to make God love us but because He already does."  -  Philip Yancy

May all of us say a prayer like what George Herbert said, "Thou who has given so much to me, give one thing more: a grateful heart."

Just as parents are pleased when their children show them gratitude, so it pleases God and Jesus when we are thankful and grateful to them for their many blessings.

Here is a lovely song on thankfulness by Josh Groban:

"And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful."  -  Colossians 3:15

"Saying, Amen: Blessing, and glory, and wisdom, and thanksgiving, and honour, and  power, and might, be unto our God for ever and ever.  Amen."  -  Revelation 7:12