“Let us come before His presence with thanksgiving and make a joyful noise to Him with Psalms.” (Psalms 95:2)

Thanksgiving is not a solar day, but an attitude of heart that leads to the act of prayer and praise. Only genuine redeemed people can really pray and praise the Lord for His goodness and blessings.

Thanks to the Lord in prayer can be of a private nature. For example, read of Daniel in Daniel 6:10 which accounts of his stalwart faith and trust in God, even in a foreign and strange land.

“Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed he went into his house; and his windows being opened in his chamber toward Jerusalem, he kneeled upon his knees three times a day, and prayed, and gave thanks before God, as he did aforetime.”

Thanks in conversation with God can be of a public nature as well as private. The Psalmist David saw the great need to praise God “among much people.” He felt this would be of great benefit, not only to him, but to all who hear, brethren, and enemies alike.

“I will give thee thanks in the great congregation: I will praise thee among much people.” (Psalm 35:18)

Sometimes, we are all prone to give thanks to the Lord for what He has done for us personally. Often times, this thanks is given for material things. However, it is even possible to become selfish in our own spiritual matters. We should be thankful for the salvation of others from the penalty and power of sin. Romans 6:17 reads:

“But God be thanked, that you were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart the form of doctrine which was delivered you. Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness.”

Prayer can come from our hearts, but directed to God in response to the salvation of the lost, wherever and whenever they turn to God and are set free from the death penalty of sin.

Believers should thank God for the faith exhibited by other believers. Paul put this right at the beginning of his list of thanksgivings. In showing gratitude and praise for the saints at Rome, he exclaimed:

“First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for you all, that your faith is spoken of throughout the whole world.” (Rom. 1:18)

We should never get to the place of thinking there are no faithful and loving people anywhere but on our own doorstep. God has His people everywhere and we should pray that they will be encouraged and endowed with great faith whatever their position or condition in this world.

We often remark that “grace is God’s unmerited favor bestowed upon helpless sinners.” Paul was thankful for the Corinthian believers. He was so thankful for this grace shown to these saints that he saluted them by writing,

“I thank my God always on your behalf, for the grace of God which is given you by Jesus Christ.” (I Cor. 1:4)

Thanks should be given to God for earnest Christians who can care enough for fellow human beings to move with enthusiasm and dispatch in providing help to the needy. That need might be spiritual, or material. In II Corinthians 8:6, Paul commended the brother Titus for his zeal and care in personally accepting and carrying out an act of mercy to others.

“But thanks be to God, which put the same earnest care into the heart of Titus for you. For indeed he accepted the exhortation; but being more forward of his own accord, he went unto you.”

Yes, thanksgiving can be expressed by every child of God every day in many ways. It is meaningful in our own behalf, but becomes more meaningful and graceful when shown for others in their salvation, faith, grace, and zeal to serve.

“We are bound to thank God always for you, brethren, as it is meet because that your faith growth exceedingly, and the love of every one of you all toward each other aboundeth.” (II Thess. 1:3)