Enter His gates with thanksgiving, and His courts with praise.

Give thanks to Him; bless His name. (Psalm 100:4)

***********************************************

But not today, some might say.  “After all, tomorrow is another day!” ¹ This famous line, uttered by Scarlett O’Hara in Gone with the Wind, is one that is, often, used or paraphrased when we wish to procrastinate or just believe in tomorrow to the extent that there will always be another day, waiting– for us to complete what we haven’t completed, to do what we should have already done, and/or to say what we should have already said.

Expressing gratitude might be placed in the category of a “tomorrow” delay to friends, family, colleagues, or peers. We may believe this is all right, because we intend to do this, just not today. But showing appreciation should not be on hold for “another day.” Today is the day to say, “Thank you.” How different the world might be if today was always the day for gratitude.

Our thankfulness to God should be communicated to Him daily, hourly, every minute, every second and never be withheld for another time. We can show THANKSGIVING and PRAISE to God every day by:

T: Trusting in His faithfulness to us.

H: Honoring Him by the way we live.

A: Asking for His forgiveness when we fall short, wanting to be faithful in His eyes.

N: Needing Him in all aspects of our life and demonstrating this to Him.

K: Knowing His Word through personal study, reflection, and obedience.

S: Singing praises to His Name in honor and gratitude.

G: Giving generously to others from our hearts as He gave sacrificially to us.

I: Inquiring deeper in personal prayer with Him to understand His ways and His Word.

V: Voicing His truth to others to help bring them to the salvation we have in Him.

I: Immersing ourselves in His Word to know how to live more like Christ.

N: Nonconforming to the world around us that we may obey and follow only Him.

G: Going through life with God in all we say, do, think, and decide.

The gratitude we should express to God is related to us in scripture: ” Therefore, since we receive a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us show gratitude, by which we may offer to God an acceptable service with reverence and awe; for our God is a consuming fire.”(Hebrews 12:28-29)

Psalm 28:7 -The LORD is my strength and my shield; My heart trusts in Him, and I am helped; Therefore my heart exults, And with my song I shall thank Him.

Psalm 69:30 – I will praise the name of God with song, and shall magnify Him with thanksgiving.

Colossians 2:6-7 – Therefore as you have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, having been firmly rooted and now being built up in Him and established in your faith, just as you were instructed, and overflowing with gratitude.

Psalm 34:1 – I will bless the LORD at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth.

1 Thessalonians 5:18- In everything give thanks; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.

Let us always remember to give thanks to God every today. Tomorrow is not promised.

This is the day the Lord has made;
We will rejoice and be glad in it. (Psalm 118:24)

                                                    And we will offer up our thanksgiving to Him.

¹Mitchell, Margaret.  Gone with the Wind. http://www.goodreads.com/work/quotes

(Sharon G. Tate blog 11/20/16)   teacherforjesus.com  Meditations on God’s Word