Thanksgiving and Praise

“Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name.”

Psalm 100:4

I have noticed I don’t always come to God with a thankful heart and with praise. Sometimes I barge right up to tell Him something, or just ask for something right away. Would you believe there are times I am actually going to God just to complain? Of course that was not my planned intention, or was it? What does God have to say about this?

“Now the people complained about their hardships in the hearing of the Lord, and when he heard them his anger was aroused. Then fire from the Lord burned among them and consumed some of the outskirts of the camp.”

Numbers 11:1

I’m sure glad that was the old covenant or I’m not sure I would still be here! I believe God continues to  feel strongly about His people complaining even though we are under a new covenant where He’s not allowing us to become toast when we complain.

“Do everything without complaining and arguing.”

Philippians 2:14

All parents have experienced a child complaining about how difficult their life is. I tried to teach my children that complaining would not help and I didn’t want to hear it. Could that be what God is thinking when we come to Him like whining children? Maybe He’s also trying to teach us that complaining will not help and He doesn’t want to listen to it. I believe He feels more strongly about it than we realize.

Sometimes we may wonder why there is no joy in our lives, when all the while we complain.  So where is that joy? In Galatians 5:22 we see that joy is a fruit of the Holy Spirit. If the Holy Spirit lives inside of us, then joy is also inside of us. If we have established the habit of a bad attitude and negative responses to life, it will take some time to develop good habits of praise and thanksgiving, which will awaken our joy.

What better time than on Thanksgiving to make a fresh commitment to be more thankful, speaking words of praise to the Lord, and choosing to live in His joy. If we really believe His Word, and recognize all He has done for us, thanksgiving and praise will be a natural response.

“Through Him, therefore, let us constantly and at all times offer up to God a sacrifice of praise, which is the fruit of lips that thankfully acknowledge and confess and glorify His name.”

Hebrews 13:15