DEVOTION AND THANKSGIVING. GIVE THANKS

TEXT: I THESSALONIANS 5:18

DEVOTION:
Means to dedicate, consecrate, set apart for God most high, commitment, loyalty, fervency.

Negative: accursed, forbidden, condemn, anything dedicated to God is an accursed thing.

THANKSGIVING:
 An attitude of gratitude or appreciation to God for what He has done.

A life of devotion will naturally result in praise and thanks to God. Every devotee is expected to be thankful, however the case is different most times our focus is on things that God has not done and we forget the benefits we have received from the Father. Thanksgiving should be the attitude of everyone that is devoted to God. It should be a life style.

1. REFLECT ON GOD’S GOODNESS: Psalm 92:1; psalm 103:1-2
Think of all the Lord has done. You will find reasons to give thanks to the Father.

a. The Past: The Good times and the Bad times.
b. The Present: John 3:27

Everything comes from the God. Where you are now. What God is doing in and around you calls for thanks and praise to Him. What you see God doing in another person’s life – Give God thanks celebrate God. When we thank God for the present we strategically position ourselves for future blessings and breakthrough.

c. The Future

Those dreams, goals, desires and aspirations. Thank God for them. It takes God to achieve them..e.g The expectation of the righteous shall not be cut short (Proverbs 23: 18, Jeremiah 29:11, 1 corinthians 2:9)

Psalm 56:10: David knew how to praise God for His word and not the situation

When we reflect deeply on God’s goodness it changes our perspective and helps us respond in thanks and appreciation to God.

RESPOND IN THANKS:

Why should we thank God? Thanksgiving places a demand on us but it is also highly rewarding.

A. WHEN TO GIVE THANKS

i. Give thanks in all circumstances (1 Thessalonians 5:18).

ii. Give thanks for everything (Ephesians 5:20).

iii. Give thanks at all times. (Ephesians 5:20).

We respond in thanksgiving because it is God’s will and it also has the power to turn things around in our favour.

B. REWARD OR BLESSING

i. It is a key to receiving the promise (Hebrews 10:36).

ii. It is a key to victory (2 Chronicles 20:22-24)

iii. Thanksgiving brings glory to God (2 Chronicles 5:13-14)

iv. Thanksgiving turns around situation (John 11:41)

v. Thanksgiving brings enlargement (John 6:6-13)

vi. God’s blessings upon our lives (Psalm 118: 21-23)

What you don’t appreciate God for has the tendency to depreciate.

C. HOW TO GIVE THANKS NOW AND AFTER
i. Yield our lives to him as gifts or tokens of thanksgiving.

ii. Dancing with great rejoicing from our hearts

iii. Giving to God that which is according to how we esteem him in our hearts

iv. Praising him with our lips

v. Eating together in fellowship meal

vi. Releasing our future for him to bless

vii. Blessing one another from the word.

CONCLUSION:
Thanksgiving pleases God, when God is pleased anything can happen. Psalm 69: 30-31: Position yourself for a great harvest as we thank Him. Every harvest speaks of the future, if you must enjoy a glorious future you must learn to give thank to God – in all circumstances, for everything and at all times. Don’t ever fail to glorify and give thanks to God.