Good morning. Thank you for reading these daily thoughts. I don’t get a lot of feedback, but I do from time to time, and it is gratifying to know that the thoughts of an old preacher may touch someone’s mind or heart now and again.

Saying thanks is not a hard thing to do, especially when it is a genuine expression from the heart. But I wonder if it might be worth a word or two (especially since it is the season of Thanksgiving) to suggest that saying thanks is too important to take for granted.

Have you considered that whatever lovely, worthy, gracious, thoughtful, kind, or encouraging act or word that might cause you to say “thank you” originates from the heart of God? There is love and there is hatred, just as there is good and evil. There are words which are gracious and those that are condemning, and acts that are righteous and actions that are selfish. There are categories of attitude and action which originate from the heart of God, and there are others from our enemy. Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. James 1:17 As we recognize the truth of that verse, we could consider that every time we express thanks to one another in a genuine way for kind and thoughtful words and actions, we are also expressing thanksgiving and praise to our Father God from whose heart those words and actions originate. Since that is true, wouldn’t it also be true that when we fail to say thanks to someone for their kind and considerate words or actions we are also failing to give thanks to the Lord?

For all of the reasons we have to offer genuine expressions of thanks, none are so worthy as the truth that defines our lives every day. That truth expressed in Colossians 2:6-7 So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.

One more reminder of the need to say thanks, and of the truth that all that is worthy of thanksgiving comes first from God: Ephesians 5:18-20 …but be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody with your hearts to the Lord; always giving thanks for all things in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to our God and Father.

Give thanks, say thanks, enjoy thanks, all in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ  for it always is an act of praise celebrating our heavenly Father.

Vern