THANKS-LIVING

“Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by PRAYER and SUPPLICATION, with THANKSGIVING, let your requests be made known to God” – Hebrews 13:15

God desires that we transcend Thanksgiving into higher realms of THANKS-LIVING: “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by PRAYER and SUPPLICATION, with THANKSGIVING, let your requests be made known to God” (Phi.4:6). The term Thanks-Living can be defined as Living a Life of Perpetual Praise and Continual Thanksgiving: “Rejoicing in the Lord ALWAYS. Again I will say, REJOICE!” (v.4). Believers in Christ are called to live a life of praise and thanksgiving. This is not only a privilege but also our responsibility.

Praise declares who God is, what He can do, and what He’s going to do! Praise comes from within us; it is never intimidated by external influences or pressures. The true Person of Praise declares: “I will praise God through the floods and the fires. I will praise God even in the midst of the storm.”

Praise stands on God’s Word, not on fleeting feelings. The Person of Praise proclaims: “Even though I may not feel like praising God, I will because His Word commands me to and I know He is worthy.” Praise transcends emotions and feelings and walks in obedience, which is the evidence of love for God:  “He who has My commandments and keeps them, it is he who loves Me. And he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and manifest Myself to him” (Jh.14:21).

Thanks-living demands a praise-full tongue even when you are troubled by negative thoughts and emotions: “and my tongue shall speak of Your righteousness and of Your praise all the day long” (Psa.35:28). Psalm 126:2 is the reward of thanks-living: “Then our mouth was filled with laughter, and our tongue with singing. Then they said among the nations, “The LORD has done great things for them.” Vile speech just cannot come out of a worshiper’s lips. Praise and vain speech should not come from the same source (Jam.3:9-12). The True Worshipper prefers to give God praise than to criticize Him or condemn His people or His creation. Praise and worship are powerful against the venom of negative emotions.

Thanks-living means to live above anxiety, discouragement, and fear. Many of these negative emotions come from “What if” thoughts: “What if I don’t have enough money to pay the bills? What if I lose my job? What if something bad happens? What if terrorists overrun the city? What if a negative diagnosis turns up?” The Bible tells us how to handle such thoughts and emotions: “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things” (Phil.4:6-8). This is beyond Positive Thinking. It is Positive Praise-full Living!

“Be anxious for nothing” does not imply “Forget about it.” Rather, God gives us the solution: pray about everything and give praise and thanks always. The result will be His Peace that is beyond all comprehension – peace even when it doesn’t make sense. That kind of peace will protect the heart and mind. Praising God is the way to combat all anxiety and the deepest of fears. Fear lies. Fear denies that God’s presence is fully active, and it cancels all hope and faith in God’s power to work in our behalf. But Thanks-living – through faith, prayer, praise, and the Word of God will conquer every fear.

Thanks-living is a perpetual attitude of gratitude. It involves pleasing God’s Heart and lifting His name on high with your thoughts, words, and actions. Thanks-living should be who you are 24/7. Thanks-living will propel you to your destiny and help you achieve what you were created for.