Let us continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name. Hebrews 13:15
Thanksgiving, the giving of thanks, is on the hearts and minds of many people this week as we celebrate Thanksgiving here in the United States. As new creations in Christ, however, we are called to a lifestyle of “giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.” Ephesians 5:20
In Ephesians 5:20 the Greek word for “giving thanks” is eucharisteo, which means “to be grateful or to feel thankful.” Do you feel thankful? Are you grateful? If not, take the first step! Begin to give thanks to God! As you do this you will discover that something supernatural begins to transpire in your heart. You will actually begin to feel thankful and be grateful.
Feeling thankful and being grateful is usually not an automatic response. You must follow God’s exhortation as seen in Ephesians 5:20 and in Hebrews 13:15 even in the midst of the difficulty and the troubled circumstances that you are going through. Hebrews 13:15 calls this offering a sacrifice of praise. Why? Because this is not how your flesh wants to respond.
But, you do have a choice! You have a choice to either come into agreement with your flesh, grumbling and complaining about what is happening. Or, you can choose to come into agreement with His name – Who He is and what He has done, thanking and praising Him.
The Greek word for “giving thanks” as seen in Hebrews 13:15 is homologeo, which means to speak the same as or to agree with. You have the honor and privilege, no matter what you are facing, to come into agreement with His name, allowing His Word to flow from your lips. Wow! This is similar to what I had discovered years ago about one of the ways “bless” could be translated as seen in Psalm 103. “Bless the LORD, O my soul; and all that is within me, bless His holy name! Psalm 103:1 “To bless” means to thankfully come into agreement with – to “homologeo” – His name.
Today, and every day of the year, you and I have the opportunity to thankfully come in agreement with His name – the One Who forgives all our sins, Who heals all our diseases, Who redeems our life from the pit of destruction, Who satisfies our mouth with good things so that our youth is renewed like the eagles.(Psalm 103:3-5) What happens when you do this? He daily loads you up with His benefits (Psalm 68:19)
Take a moment to listen to these two simple words “Thank-You” being sung by Wes Gorospe, Camarillo Healing Rooms’ leader of worship. As you view it, begin to give thanks to God for Who He is and for all His blessings, singing “Thank-You” to Him. Allow “Thank-You” to fill your heart, mind, and mouth today and everyday of the year.
Happy Thanksgiving to you and to your loved ones!
Sue Burdullis