BENEFITS OF GRATITUDE
Oluwamuyiwa Okuseinde
“Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name” (Psalms 100:4).
Every instruction of Scripture is for our benefit. That is why the Bible says that all scripture is inspired for our profit (2 Timothy 3:16). Although our thanksgiving is to God, we are the principal beneficiaries thereof.
One important benefit of thanksgiving is that it gives access. The Psalmist says thanksgiving opens the gate of God. Ingratitude shuts that gate in our face. Gratitude gives access to the very presence of God (Psalms 140:13). It opens for us the door to God and to His blessings.
Thanksgiving gives you access to more of whatever you are grateful for. Whether it is in relation to God or man, doors to more benefits are never shut against the grateful ones. If someone had a need which you helped to meet and the person showed appreciation, that show of appreciation will guarantee that if he should need that sort of favour again, you will feel no restraint to assist.
It is important also to add that when we give thanks, we are doing the pleasure of God. Remember that it is the will of God for us in Christ Jesus to give thanks in everything (1 Thessalonians 5:18). It is safe to reason that God is pleased when we do His will, and when we do His will, He is well disposed to doing what is good for us.
David understood the benefits of being thankful to God and excelled in the art of thanksgiving. He was so much into it that he became a model and a reference point on matters of thanksgiving. In relating to God, his enduring counsel is: “Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name”. There is no better time to be thankful to God than now.
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FURTHER BIBLE READING: PSALMS 100:1-5.
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EXERCISES
- What new insight have you gained from the above message? Please write it down in your journal.
- What would be your prayer points and what are the steps you will take?
- If you have been blessed by this message, please share it with your friends and loved ones.
TODAY’S MESSAGE
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