It Starts Small

When we open the Old Testament we find that Israel worshipped God through various required religious sacrifices and offerings. The thanksgiving offering was different from the others because it was not an obligation. No one was required to do this sacrifice. People gave to God out of the overflow of their heart. They gave as an act of thankfulness to prayer or His work in their lives. These sacrifices involved material sacrifice, praise, prayers, and singing.

(See Leviticus 7:11-15)

I heard a preacher once say, when they were a kid, their parent would give them money to buy a Christmas gift for the other parent. They would earn allowance, but they had nothing their parent did not give them. This is an example of how our Heavenly Father works. Anything we give to God we first receive from Him.

We would not have the very breath in our lung, praise in our hearts, or a penny to our name apart from God’s grace. By Admitting that everything we are and have comes from Him, helps us to hold things loosely and give thanks quickly.

In 1 Chronicles 29:10-22, David throws a huge party. This party was after commissioning his son, Solomon. As David seeks to fund the rebuilding of the temple, as King, he does not tax the people or command them to give. He encourages them to give according to what God has given each of them. He leads them into a time of prayer of thanksgiving that dwells on God’s attributes and acts.

Take time now to read that passage of scripture.

Nothing motivates thankfulness and worship like remembering God’s goodness and grace!

This is King David speaking. Most kings and presidents across history became drunk on their power, but not David. David stays humble and his eyes remain on God. Knowledge OF God provides perspective. Any wisdom, strength, gifts, and abilities David had belong to God and he knew it.

Grace makes us grateful. Gratitude spawns generosity. God provides so we gave graciously give back. God will bless our lives in countless ways and we thank Him for all of them. God fights our battles, preserving us, and we give thanks for His victories and trust Him with our future.

A right view of God transforms our grumblings into gratitude.

A right view of self humbles the proud, producing thanksgiving for what we have received.

Think and ponder today:

Where in your life have you experienced God’s provision, wisdom, blessing, victory, and strength?

How can you give Him thanks in words and in your life?

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Part 1: Remembering Landmark Moments
Part 2: The Overflow of Your Heart
Part 3: Saying Grace
Part 4: Blessings or Problems?
Part 5: The Lord’s Supper
Part 6: Remembering and Forgetting
Part 7: Remember God!