Extend Our Gratefulness
From many years of studying the Bible and learning from good people, I can think of dozens of things someone said that stuck with me. One of my professors at Calvary University said something that just came to my memory and became the subject of this week’s blog. He said, “When God answers our prayers, why don’t we thank God for at least as long as we were praying and asking for it?” Giving thanks is so important, let’s extend our gratefulness, God deserves it.
Paul wrote, “in everything give thanks; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus” (1 Thessalonians 5:18). Several things stick out, first is the command, “give thanks”, and it is extended to “everything”. Remember everything good that happens to us, large or small, comes from God. “Every good thing given and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shifting shadow” (James 1:17). So, nothing is to be taken for granted. Second, this verse points out that giving thanks is God’s will for His people in Christ Jesus. It is what He wants for us.
The Effect of Thanking God
When we look around us for good things, it sets our mind on God. He gave us these blessings! Thinking about God answering our prayers lifts our spirits and brings us joy. Meditate on this thought, God enjoys doing good things for us! “He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him over for us all, how will He not also with Him freely give us all things?” (Romans 8:32). It is uplifting to our spirits to think of the good things we have received, “anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things” (Philippians 4:8).
Praying for Big Things
But some blessings really stand out to us. When I heard my professor in Senior Theology class, “When God answers our prayers, why don’t we thank God for at least as long as we were praying and asking for it?”, what came to mind was my right leg. I injured it badly in an accident when I was 16, which led to both my Junior and Senior years in High School being spent on crutches. Then I had three more surgeries and I finally got well. And so, I was on a mission for a number of years to remember to thank God for my legs and that I could walk.
Some answered prayers (like my leg) are a really big deal to us. We cry out for God to help us for long periods of time. When He answers us, could we not also extend our gratefulness, at least that long? Or maybe when we run into something that reminds us of what He did, to say thanks. Let’s extend our gratefulness, God is good and He deserves it.
