Be Thankful
🌿 The Greatest Sacrifice: Living a Life of Thanksgiving
“The one who offers thanksgiving as his sacrifice glorifies Me; to one who orders his way rightly I will show the salvation of God.”
— Psalm 50:23
More Thanks, Less Requests
In our walk with God, many of us spend more time asking than thanking. We cry out for blessings, breakthroughs, and miracles—yet we forget the daily mercies already flowing into our lives.
Thanksgiving is a sacrifice that honors God. When we thank Him, we acknowledge Him as our Source, our Sustainer, and our Savior.
As Prophet TB Joshua often reminded us:
“The best way to show your faith is to be thankful—before, during, and after your prayer.”
📖 The Sacrifice God Loves Most
Psalm 50:14 says:
> “Offer to God a sacrifice of thanksgiving, and perform your vows to the Most High.”
God loves when we thank Him more than we ask Him because by doing so we prove our faith. The problem with asking is that we don’t know how to do it — James 4:3 but thanksgiving cannot go wrong.
Your relationship with God is not a transaction. It is a covenant of trust. God makes the promises. Your role is to believe them and respond with thanksgiving.
🌿 Why Thanksgiving Matters
It Acknowledges God’s Faithfulness
When you thank God, you recognize Him as the source of every blessing in your life.
“Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights…” — James 1:17It Strengthens Your Relationship with God
In any relationship, gratitude builds intimacy. In your walk with God, thanksgiving shows Him that you value His presence more than His presents.It Is God’s Will for You
Paul wrote in 1 Thessalonians 5:18:
“Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.”
🙏 Thanksgiving as a Lifestyle, Not an Event
—it is an essential lifestyle. It is our worship, weapon, a witness to our faith and the will of God.
Thanksgiving is Worship — it is more than Words. It attracts God’s presence. Psalm 22:3 reminds us: “God inhabits the praises of His people.” “Enter His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise…” — Psalm 100:4
Thanksgiving is a Weapon — When You acknowledge God’s goodness even before your miracle arrives, You disarm worry, fear, and doubt with heartfelt gratitude. It shifts your focus from what you lack to what you already have.
Thanksgiving is Witness — You declare that your trust is not in outcomes, but in God Himself. When you thank Him, you’re saying, “I believe You are in control, even if I don’t see the outcome.”
Thanksgiving is the Will of God —
“Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.” — 1 Thessalonians 5:18
Notice—it doesn’t say “for all circumstances” but in all circumstances.
This means:
When the prayer is answered — thank Him.
When the answer is delayed — thank Him.
When the situation seems confusing and doesn’t make sense— thank Him still.
Prophet T.B. Joshua says:
“The best way to show God your faith is by being thankful before the answer comes.”
“Those who honor Him in their trials prove their sonship”
Paul commands in 1 Thessalonians 5:18:
“Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”
Notice—it doesn’t say “for all circumstances” but in all circumstances.
This means:
- When the prayer is answered — thank Him.
- When the answer is delayed — thank Him.
- When the situation seems confusing — thank Him still.
True gratitude is not based on circumstances but on confidence in God’s unchanging character.
Thanksgiving brings Revelation and Divine Guidance
Gratitude is a gateway to divine revelation– Psalm 50:23
If you feel like you are in the dark spiritually, try thankfulness.
Sometimes, the very salvation, breakthrough, or direction you are praying for is waiting for you on the other side of thanksgiving.
🌟 The Exchange in Our Relationship with God
Let’s consider our daily walk with God:
- He provides daily bread → Our role is to give daily thanks.
- He makes promises → Our role is to trust and wait with gratitude.
- He gives life and breath each morning → Our role is to wake up with praise, not complaints.
When you realize that every breath is borrowed and every blessing is a gift, thanksgiving becomes natural, not forced.
💡 A Reflective Question
“How much do you give thanks to Him?”
Do you spend more time on requests than on gratitude?
Do your prayers sound like shopping lists or love songs?
Are you constantly making requests but rarely reflecting?
Are you so focused on what you lack that you miss what you already have?
Remember—thankfulness is the seed of trust, and trust is the soil where miracles grow.
🔥 A Call to Action: Make Thanksgiving Your Daily Sacrifice
Start and end your day with thanks. Before checking your phone, say, “Lord, thank You for life today.”
Turn every request into gratitude. Instead of only asking for healing, thank Him that Jesus is still your Healer.
Turn complaints into thanksgiving: instead of “Why me?” say “Thank You, Lord, You are with me.”
Give thanks publicly. Share testimonies. Speak of His goodness. Gratitude multiplies when it’s voiced.
Let thanksgiving shape your attitude. Murmuring chases God’s presence; gratitude invites it.
🙏 Prayer of Thanksgiving
Lord, forgive me for the times I have asked more than I have thanked. Today, I choose to offer You the sacrifice of thanksgiving. I thank You for life, for salvation, for provision, and for promises yet to be fulfilled. Teach me to trust You with a grateful heart—in every circumstance.
In Jesus’ name, Amen.