When I was eight years old I had a eye exam, when I tried to decipher the letters on the chart, I was so wrong that the doctor thought I was joking, but it wasn’t a joke. I was too short-sighted.
A week later, when I picked up my first pair of glasses, I was surprised, I was able to read the road signs, recognize people’s faces in the distance, see mountains in the distance and individual leaves in the trees, I could see more clearly than ever. It sounds a lot like gratitude, gratitude is like a pair of glasses, because it helps us to see more clearly the glory of God’s mercy, and therefore, because our greatest joy is to see the glory of God, gratitude increases our joy.
- For many years.
- I had not experienced greater joy in God through gratitude.
- I obediently thanked God for his blessings.
- But because I did not understand Thanksgiving.
- My gratitude did not help me see God’s glorious mercy and therefore did not increase my joy.
The problem was that he saw Thanksgiving, mainly as an obligation to fulfill. God had done something for me, so now I owe him the thanks. And after I said “Thank you,” my debt would be paid and I’d worry about other things. .
But that’s not how the Bible talks about thanksgiving. First, consider how the Bible often associates thanksgiving with joy.
“Let us go out to meet him, with thanksgiving, let us overcome him with psalms” (Salt 95:2).
“Rejoice, righteous, in the Lord, and praise his holy name” (Psalm 97:12).
“Give sacrifices of thanksgiving and joyfully proclaim your works!”(Salt 107,22).
Therefore, joy and thanksgiving are linked, but how?
We may think that the connection is obvious: when we give thanks, we rejoice in what God has given us. Think about the joy we feel when we are promoted or healed. Certainly, joy in God’s gifts is part of gratitude. But this is not the case, the only joy of gratitude and that is not the greatest joy.
We can discover the greatest joy of gratitude by observing how often the word of God uniesgivings with praise.
“I will praise you in the great congregation, praise you in the midst of the mighty multitude” (Psalm 35:18).
“I will praise the name of God with chants, I will praise him with thanksgiving” (Psalm 69:30).
“One of the ten [lepers], seeing that he had been healed, returned giving glory to God in a strong voice, and prostred himself upon his face at the feet of Jesus, thanking him?(Lk 17:15,16) .
I used to distinguish between thanksgiving and praise and, of course, they are different: thanksgiving focuses more on what God does and praises who God is, but these verses show that there is a bond. The fact that thanksgiving is linked to praise shows that thanksgiving does not ignore who God is. Thanksgiving helps us see and praise who God is. And this act of seeing and praise God is the greatest joy of thanksgiving.
How does it work?
Let’s say you get a promotion and you want to thank God. Gratitude begins by seeing the courage and mercy of God’s gifts.
So, do you remember the value of this promotion? It can be a more interesting job, a higher salary and a better career. So do you consider the mercy of this ascent? As a sinner who deserves only hell, this gift is an infinitely dear mercy, bought for you by the suffering of Jesus on the cross.
So when you thank God, reminding you of the courage and mercy of this promotion, will experience be like wearing glasses?glorious mercy is our most complete satisfaction.
So when God calls us to thank, He not only calls us to thank for what He has done, but He calls us to rejoice with those who manifest themselves in what He does, and that is why Christian hedonists appreciate thanking God: thanking God for guidance. seeing God more, and seeing God more is our greatest joy.
How can we thank God in a way that increases our joy in God?Here are five steps.
First, ask for the help of the Spirit. The purpose of thanksgiving is to see and feel the glory of God’s mercy, and we cannot do so without the work of the Spirit. Then ask.
Second, consider the value of God’s gifts. Consider the value of each gift. Think about health, friends, food in front of you; think especially of the Savior, whose death paid for his sins and acquired in him a fulness of joy forever.
Third, think of the mercy of God’s gifts. Not only do we not deserve them, but because of our sins, all we deserve is God’s judgment. mercy shown in these gifts bought with blood.
Fourth, do this until you see and feel More of God’s glorious mercy. Continue to pray for the revelatory work of Jesus of the Spirit and continue to think about the courage and mercy of God’s gifts, until you feel more of God’s glorious mercy on Christ. .
Fifth, express your joyful gratitude and praise to God. Thank God. Thank your gifts, express the value of every gift and mercy of each gift. And rejoice in how each gift shows you the glory of God’s grace in Christ.
We all need help to see God’s glorious mercy, and gratitude, like glasses, can help. Then, for your joy in God, put on your glasses of gratitude and see.