I love Thanksgiving. (And, yes, I know this is not November!) For too many of us thanksgiving is a day of the year instead of a way of life. We have established a tradition without applying the truth.

God never meant us to give thanks from time to time. He blesses us every day. This is why David wrote, “Blessed be the Lord, who daily loadeth us with benefits, even the God of our salvation. Selah” (Psalm 68:19). Daily benefits deserve daily blessing. Notice that the “blessing” mentioned here is not the Lord blessing us, but us blessing Him. His blessings upon us are constant. It is our blessing and praising of His name that seems to waver.

He continues to shower us with goodness. We continue to ask for more.

Where is the gratitude?

In the words of the Lord Jesus after He healed ten lepers and only one returned to give thanks, “Where are the nine?” (Luke 17:17)

Some of the most powerful words spoken on earth, some of the most powerful words heard in Heaven, are “thank you.” Thanks giving affects all of life. Here is what thanks living does…

• Thanks brings you near to God. Remember, He inhabits the praises of His people! “Enter into his gates with thanksgiving and into his courts with praise” (Psalm 100:4).

• Thanks makes you happy in your own soul. Grumbling and gratitude don’t live at the same address. Dr. Bob Jones, Sr. said, “When gratitude dies on the altar of a man’s heart, he is well-nigh gone.”

• Thanks keeps your heart right toward others. Gratitude changes your attitude about everything and everyone else.

I don’t know about you, but I need to be near to God daily. I need my soul made happy daily. I need a right attitude toward others daily. And daily thanksgiving makes all of that possible!

“So will I sing praise unto thy name for ever, that I may daily perform my vows” (Psalm 61:8).

Several weeks ago my wife commented to me that it would be a good idea to emphasize thankfulness when we prayed as a family each night. She suggested that each of us share three things each night for which we were grateful to God. No one could repeat the same thing for a full week. (She is a hard task master!)

In the beginning it was interesting how each of us had to think carefully each night. Thoughtfulness produces thankfulness. Over time it became more natural and soon it had affected the entire spirit of our home. Daily thanksgiving makes every day better and brighter. Try it for yourself!

“It is a good thing to give thanks unto the LORD, and to sing praise unto thy name, O Most High: To show forth thy lovingkindness in the morning, and thy faithfulness every night” (Psalm 92:1-2). Begin and end each day with thanksgiving. Thank God for His kindness at the dawn of a new day, and thank Him for His faithfulness at the conclusion of another.

Daily Challenge: For the next week set aside time each evening to thank God for specific things and people He has placed in your life. Make a gratitude list! Share it with a loved one and give the Lord praise for His goodness.

(Read the previous article in the “Daily Christian Life” Series here.)