Tuesday, November 21, 2023

I will offer You the sacrifice of thanksgiving, and will call upon the Name of the Lord.

Psalm 116:17

Au and Au declare in their book, The Grateful Heart: Living the Christian Message, “Gratitude takes on many forms. As an emotion, it refers to the spontaneous surge of feeling for someone who does something for us. As a virtue, it is something that we have developed through years of practice so that being grateful has become a habitual part of our character. And as an attitude, it is gratefulness for everything in life, including our very existence from moment to moment. In all these manifestations, gratitude has been regarded throughout history as a life-giving practice that benefits both individuals and society.”

The psalmist in Psalm 116 says that he will offer the sacrifice of thanksgiving. Now, what we must realize is that though we offer the “sacrifice” of thanksgiving, it pays great dividends. Au and Au declare that some of those benefits include peace of mind, better personal relationship, and happiness in general. These outcomes are not just reported by others but proven in psychological experiments.

When we are consumed by our circumstances, challenges, and worries, thanksgiving seems like a sacrifice. But the truth of the matter is that we are blessed as we bless our God in heart and words.

PRAYER: Lord, teach me to be grateful. Even when I am overwhelmed by life’s situations, teach me to grow in my gratitude. In the name of Jesus, I pray. Amen

Au, W., & Au, N. C. (2011). The Grateful Heart: Living the Christian Message. Paulist Press.