1 Corinthians 15:55-57 NKJV (55) “O DEATH, WHERE IS YOUR STING? O HADES, WHERE IS YOUR VICTORY?” (56) The sting of death is sin, and the strength of sin is the law. (57) But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
2 Corinthians 2:14 NKJV (14) Now thanks be to God who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and through us diffuses the fragrance of His knowledge in every place.
KJV – “…causes us to triumph…”
There is a clear connection between thanks and our victory or triumph in life.
- Scriptural prayer requires a heart of thanksgiving not a heart of desperation and anxiety.
Philippians 4:6 AMPC Do not fret or have any anxiety about anything, but in every circumstance and in everything, by prayer and petition (definite requests), with thanksgiving, continue to make your wants known to God.
Colossians 4:2 AMPC Be earnest and unwearied and steadfast in your prayer [life], being [both] alert and intent in [your praying] with thanksgiving.
- Your thanksgiving must always be greater than the prayer of petition.
- The highest level of faith is when you can thank God for something you have asked for and yet do not have the manifestation.
- For us to be rooted and established in faith requires a thankful heart.
Colossians 2:7 AMPC Have the roots [of your being] firmly and deeply planted [in Him, fixed and founded in Him], being continually built up in Him, becoming increasingly more confirmed and established in the faith, just as you were taught, and abounding and overflowing in it with thanksgiving.
- A heart of thanksgiving invites the Lord to be able to get involved in your deliverance.
Psalms 50:14-15 TPT Why don’t you bring me the sacrifices I desire? Bring me your true and sincere thanks, and show your gratitude by keeping your promises to me, the Most High. (15) Honor me by trusting in me in your day of trouble. Cry aloud to me, and I will be there to rescue you.
- An unthankful heart will choke your relationship with God and take you where you don’t want to go.
Romans 1:20-21 NKJV For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse, (21) because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened.
2 Timothy 3:1-5 NKJV But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: (2) For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, (3) unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, (4) traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, (5) having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away!
- Thanksgiving must be greater than one day a year. It must be a lifestyle.
Daniel 6:10 NLT But when Daniel learned that the law had been signed, he went home and knelt down as usual in his upstairs room, with its windows open toward Jerusalem. He prayed three times a day, just as he had always done, giving thanks to his God.
Hebrews 13:15 AMPC Through Him, therefore, let us constantly and at all times offer up to God a sacrifice of praise, which is the fruit of lips that thankfully acknowledge and confess and glorify His name. [Lev 7:12; Isa 57:19; Hos 14:2]
Colossians 3:17 NKJV And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.
Colossians 3:17 MSG Let every detail in your lives–words, actions, whatever–be done in the name of the Master, Jesus, thanking God the Father every step of the way.
1 Thessalonians 5:18 NKJV (18) in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.
- Thanksgiving is an act of your faith!
Mark 6:41-44 AMPC And taking the five loaves and two fish, He looked up to heaven and, praising God, gave thanks and broke the loaves and kept on giving them to the disciples to set before the people; and He [also] divided the two fish among [them] all. (42) And they all ate and were satisfied. (43) And they took up twelve [small hand] baskets full of broken pieces [from the loaves] and of the fish. (44) And those who ate the loaves were 5,000 men.
Jesus’ attitude of praise and thanks is what allowed the little that they had to be multiplied and meet the needs of so many.
Thanksgiving is a very powerful thing AFTER something has happened, but it is even more powerful to thank God BEFORE something happens.
Thanksgiving is more than a polite response.
- A heart of thanksgiving will allow the fullness and completion of what God wants to do in your life.
Luke 17:11-19 NKJV Now it happened as He went to Jerusalem that He passed through the midst of Samaria and Galilee. (12) Then as He entered a certain village, there met Him ten men who were lepers, who stood afar off. (13) And they lifted up their voices and said, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!” (14) So when He saw them, He said to them, “Go, show yourselves to the priests.” And so it was that as they went, they were cleansed. (15) And one of them, when he saw that he was healed, returned, and with a loud voice glorified God, (16) and fell down on his face at His feet, giving Him thanks. And he was a Samaritan. (17) So Jesus answered and said, “Were there not ten cleansed? But where are the nine? (18) Were there not any found who returned to give glory to God except this foreigner?” (19) And He said to him, “Arise, go your way. Your faith has made you well.”