Philippians 4:6-7
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.
INSIGHT
-Thanksgiving in Hebrew is written as todah and it means to give praise or thanks offering to God. Several scriptures have outline the word thanksgiving, including and not limited to: – thanksgiving offering to express gratitude to the Lord (Lev 7:11-16; Ps 107:21-22), giving thanks to the Lord for He is good (Ps 106:1; Ps 118:1; Ps 136:1), to glorify God with thanksgiving (Ps 69:30; Ps 95:2 ), to enter His gates with thanksgiving (Ps 100:4), sing to the Lord with thanksgiving (Ps 147:7 ), lamentation concluded with thanksgiving (Ps 7:16-17 ; Ps 28:6-7), acts of thanksgiving often occurs in prayer over a meal, such as the feeding of the multitudes (Mat 15:36; Mk 8:6; Jn 6:11 Jn 6:23) or at the last supper (Mat 26:27; Mk 14:23; Lk 22:17-19), Jesus thanked the Father for hearing His prayer that God hide His secrets from the wise and reveal them to children (Mat 11:25; Lk 10:21) and for raising Lazarus (Jn 11:41), heavenly hosts give thanks to God for creating all things (Rev 4:9-11 ) and for redeeming multitudes of humanity (Rev 5:9-14), thanksgiving was a central component of prayer for Paul (Col 1:12), and for strengthening churches (2 Cor 4:15) etc.
-Our lives are full of ups and downs and we are called to experience peace in Gods’ presence through thanksgiving. To give thanks to the Lord in all things, during lack and plenty, sickness and health, brokenness and wholeness, despair and satisfaction, poverty and wealth, delay and prosperity, joy and sorrow, heartbreak and hope, for He is good and our only source of comfort and peace. In all situations; we are reminded to pray and present our petitions to God and we will find rest in Him.
PRAYER
We give thanks to You Lord for You are good and Your mercies endures forever. We give thanks to You Lord for You have provided for us, protected us, sustained us, comforted us, guided us, journeyed with us and supplied all our needs according to Your unending love. Have mercy on us Lord and cleanse us from all unrighteousness by Your precious blood. May Your peace Father that surpasses all understanding guard our hearts and minds always through Christ Jesus. Amen
Leviticus 7:13-15
Along with their fellowship offering of thanksgiving they are to present an offering with thick loaves of bread made with yeast. They are to bring one of each kind as an offering, a contribution to the Lord ; it belongs to the priest who splashes the blood of the fellowship offering against the altar. The meat of their fellowship offering of thanksgiving must be eaten on the day it is offered; they must leave none of it till morning.
INSIGHT
-Several nations like the USA, Canada and Liberia have dedicated national celebration holidays to offer their thanksgiving to God for various benefits. The church has also provided a platform for congregants to offer their thanksgiving to the Lord in form of praise and gifts during mass and church service. This is foundational and stems from the Old Testament. Leavened bread and meat were offered to the Lord as thanksgiving sacrifice; and the priest would smear blood on the offering to sanctify it. In the same manner; Jesus offering Himself on the cross as the propitiation for our sins and calls us to offer our bodies as pleasing sacrifices; holy and acceptable to Him; which is true and proper worship (Rom 12:1). We are called to offer our bodies in holiness through the cleaning by the blood of Jesus; as sacrifices of thanksgiving producing pleasing aroma to God.
PRAYER
We give thanks to You Lord for You are good and Your love endures forever. We give thanks to You Lord for You are good and Your mercy endures forever. You have granted us peace and serenity Lord; Your mercy endures forever. You have blessed us with beautiful families; Your love endures forever. You have bestowed upon us good health; You mercy endures forever. You have provided for our basic requirements; Your mercy endures forever. You have blessed us and expanded our boundaries; Your love is everlasting. We give You praise Lord and proclaim Your holy name; for Your mercy is everlasting. You have protected us from the destructive schemes of the evil one; Your mercy endures forever. You have successfully taken us through the difficulties that we experience for Your love endures forever. You have granted us the gift of salvation; Your love is everlasting. You have given us the gift of faith and promised us everlasting life; Your grace endures forever. Purify us with Your precious blood Jesus for Your love endures forever. We sing praises to You Father and make known of all Your wonderful acts; for Your loving-kindness is everlasting. All glory and thanksgiving belong to You Jesus; now and forever. Amen
Ephesians 5:4
Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking, which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving.
INSIGHT
-The tongue is a dangerous weapon that kills without shedding blood. Foolish talk or coarse joking has been forbidden given that we are called to be imitators of Gods’ love; in word and in deeds. Choice of the wrong words leaves a dis-taste both on the mouth of the speaker and in the ears of the hearers, and may instantly damage another’s self-esteem and forever destroy good relationships. According to Apostle Paul; our speech should always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that we may know what we ought to answer each one (Col 4:6). Edification and thanksgiving offers encouragement as each one progresses in grace according to the will of the Father. It is wiser therefore to remain quiet if one does not know how to answer or his/her speech does not offer grace (Job 13:5). When one is angry; sin finds an opportunity through foolish talk but peaceful words satisfy the soul. Our words should always be geared towards the best interest of others; building relationships founded on love, reconciliation and peace. Love is not only shared through actions but also by speech that reflects the image of God. The love of God seeks holiness and conforms us to the image of His Son Jesus Christ and enables us to rejoice in the truth through thanksgiving. When our speech is marinated by truth; then the love of Christ reflects our new identity in Him for we are His children. As we edify each other through our words; we share love and realize the rich possibilities of endless relationships that are only feasible in Christ.
PRAYER
You are our Good Shepherd Jesus; direct us in our words and deeds according to Your will. Forgive us Father for the many times we have uttered obscene words, foolish talk and coarse joking, and give us the grace to be reconciled with those who have offended us. Grant us the wisdom to answer each one with grace and conform us to the image of Your Son Jesus Christ. Our Father who at in heaven hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come; thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us. Lead us not into temptations but deliver us from all evil. For thine is the kingdom the power and the glory, forever and ever. Amen
Revelation 7:11-12
All the angels stood around the throne and the elders and the four living creatures, and fell on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, saying: “Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom, Thanksgiving and honor and power and might, Be to our God forever and ever. Amen.”
INSIGHT
-God deserves all thanksgiving from the angels, heavenly hosts and us human beings. Like the angels and elders, King David often praised the Lord saying, “Praise be to You, Lord; the God of our father Israel, from everlasting to everlasting. Yours, Lord, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the majesty and the splendor, for everything in heaven and earth is Yours. Yours, Lord, is the kingdom; You are exalted as head over all. Wealth and honor come from You; You are the ruler of all things. In Your hands are strength and power to exalt and give strength to all. Now, our God, we give You thanks, and praise Your glorious name” (1 Chr 29:10-13). God is our creator for He created the heavens and the earth and that is in it. We look to Him for all things for He is the Provider, Protector, Creator and Source of all life. All blessing, glory, wisdom, thanksgiving, honor, power and might; belong to God forever.
PRAYER
You are the Alpha and Omega, the Beginning and the End Lord, the First and the Last. You are Jehovah Jireh, Jehovah Shammah, our King of glory and eternal Father. You created the heavens and the earth and all that is in them; we praise Your holy name. We extol You Lord and declare Your wondrous deeds and unfailing love for all mankind. You satisfy our thirst and fill us with good things when we are hungry; for You are good and Your mercies endures forever. You complete our hearts with joy and fill our tongues with laughter; for Your mercies endures forever. We thank You Jesus for You have given us the gift of salvation; we will forever trust in You. You deserve all the glory, blessings, wisdom, thanksgiving, honor, power and might; for Your love endures forever. Amen
Luke 17:12-19
As he was going into a village, ten men who had leprosy met him. They stood at a distance and called out in a loud voice, “Jesus, Master, have pity on us!” When he saw them, he said, “Go, show yourselves to the priests.” And as they went, they were cleansed. One of them, when he saw he was healed, came back, praising God in a loud voice. He threw himself at Jesus’ feet and thanked him—and he was a Samaritan. Jesus asked, “Were not all ten cleansed? Where are the other nine? Has no one returned to give praise to God except this foreigner?” Then he said to him, “Rise and go; your faith has made you well.”
INSIGHT
-Leprosy was a deadly disease and those who had it were treated as outcasts. Those who had leprosy wore tattered clothes, uncover their heads, cover their mouths and walk shouting “unclean” so that others would be alerted. Though there was a rift between Jews and Samaritans, leprosy united these ten men and they walked together in adversity. Like the disciples called Jesus Master, the leprous men recognized Jesus as the Master and their only hope. When they asked Jesus to have mercy on them, probably they thought that He would instantly heal them but told them to go show themselves to the priest. This was a test of their faith and as they went; they were cleansed. Through this realization; only the Samaritan offered thanksgiving to God and the other Jews went away. This was a demonstration of the rejection that Jesus faced among the Jews despite Him showing them great love. The Samaritan received His salvation and His soul was made whole. Like the leprous men, when we were still unclean in sin; Jesus demonstrated His great love for us and died for our sins so that we may be liberated to the Father and receive eternal life. We are reminded to show humility and offer thanksgiving to Jesus for His blessings upon us; which is a sign of our faith in Him. To always come to Jesus’ feet where there is reconciliation, love, peace and salvation for He is our only source of hope, our Lord and Saviour.
SUMMARY
David was faced by many obstacles since he was a young boy until he became the king of Israel; but God was always faithful to Him and fought all his battles. Job also went through tougher times when he lost all he had and became sick but he never lost faith in God. Sometimes we find ourselves overwhelmed with burdens and worry about our future. God calls us to trust in Him and always remember to offer our thanksgiving and praise to Him. God has promised never to leave us nor forsake us and calls us to have unwavering faith in Him. God requires that we give thanks to Him in all circumstances; for this is His will for us in Christ Jesus (1 Thes 5:18). To shun from all anxiety, and in every situation, present our requests to Him through prayer, petitions and thanksgiving (Phil 4:6). God has blessed us with the free gift of salvation and eternal life, and reminds us to always be focused on Him. To seek first His kingdom and His righteousness; and all other things He will add unto us.
PRAYER
We thank You Lord for the gift of life and enabling us see this new day; we rejoice and are glad in You. We know that many were unable to wake up today, but You have shown us great mercy; we give You thanks and praise. You deserve all the glory, honor, power, praise, grace, riches, power and thanksgiving Father for You are good and Your love endures forever. You have been faithful to us Father; Your grace is everlasting. You have provided for us, protected us, sustained us, comforted us, guided us, healed our wounds and supplied all our needs Lord; for Your mercy is everlasting. You have called us to give thanks to You Jehovah in all circumstances; grant us the humility to look to You always. Many are the challenges that we encounter Jesus but You deliver us from them all; we glorify and praise Your holy name. We humbly come to Your feet Jesus Master asking for Your mercy. Fight for us Jesus in all our trials and tribulations for the battle belongs to You. Take charge of our lives, families, marriages, children, jobs, businesses, studies, plans, projects, future, leaders and nation Jesus Master for You are good and Your love endures to all generations. We give thanks to You Lord for Your promises are true and right; yes and amen. Holy God; holy mighty One; holy immortal One; have mercy on us and on the whole world. Amen