Good morning thankful one!

THANKSGIVING is vital to expanding your capacity to receive from God.  It shouldn’t be that we only THANK GOD on THANKSGIVING DAY!  God is a purposeful Being with a reason for desiring that you give Him THANKS!  He desires to create a life of success, victory, and fulfillment for you.  I exhort you to position yourself for more to be given!

Hebrews 13:15 says,

  • Therefore by Him let us continually offer THE SACRIFICE OF PRAISE to God, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His Name.

A sacrifice is when there’s pressure to do something ~ when you don’t “feel” like doing it; when it’s uncomfortable.  Family, God wants us to PRAISE HIM CONTINUALLY with the fruit of our lips.  It’s imperative that we open our mouths and say, “Thank You, Lord” ~ No matter what!

Giving THANKS will cause you to become enlarged; it’ll expand your capacity to receive more.  I encourage you to cultivate a lifestyle of THANKSGIVING.  Cultivation isn’t automatic or something you do at church.  It’s purposely doing something every day.  THANKSGIVING is the key to experiencing fullness, with every need met.  

Family, GRATITUDE will keep you on course, so I admonish you to have an “attitude of gratitude“.  The way to receive all that you’ve prayed for is to continually GIVE THANKS ~ it causes you to remain spiritually aligned with God.  

Psalm 100:4 tells us to enter into His gates with THANKSGIVING, and into His courts with PRAISE; Be THANKFUL to Him, and bless His holy Name.  It’s important that we learn to THANK GOD for what we have instead of complaining about what we don’t have.  Psalm 92:1 says, “It’s good to give God THANKS“. When you stay on the path of THANKSGIVING, you’ll be on the path of light and understanding.  Having an ungrateful heart will push you into darkness and cause what you have to be taken away (see Matthew 13:12).  

So, be THANKFUL for what God has given you.  I do this every day, all day!  If you’re THANKFUL for the little you have, God will make sure more comes to you.  Being THANKFUL to God involves remembering what God has done for you and valuing it.  Be careful not to look at what other people have; instead, give THANKS for what God has done for you.

Be sure to guard your mouth and your attitude.  It’s important that we don’t murmur and complain.  GRATITUDE will cause God’s presence to engulf you!  Plus, THANKSGIVING always pleases God.  

Lastly, your circumstances shouldn’t determine whether or not you give God THANKS.  In Philippians 4:11-12, one translation reads, “I have learned in whatsoever state I am in therein to be independent of circumstances.  I know how to live in the midst of wealth or poverty.  I am a master in every state.”  And then we read in verse 13, “I can do all things through Him Who is my enabling power or ability.”  

GIVING THANKS and offering THE SACRIFICE OF PRAISE is God’s will for you, no matter what the circumstances.  1 Thessalonians 5:18 says,

  • Thank [God] in everything [no matter what the circumstances may be, be thankful and give thanks], for this is the will of God for you [who are] in Christ Jesus [the Revealer and Mediator of that will].

We won’t be able to find God’s ultimate will for our lives until we’ve learned how to cultivate a lifestyle of THANKSGIVING.  When we give God THANKSGIVING, Jeremiah 30:19 declares this:

  • There will be joy and songs of thanksgiving, and I will multiply My people, not diminish them; I will honor them, not despise them. 

Hallelujah!

Giving praise and thanksgiving to God today,

Lisa Gordon

Assistant Pastor

Jesus City Church