Enter His gates with thanksgiving.
Then as He entered a certain village, there met Him ten men who were lepers, who stood afar off. And they lifted up their voices and said, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!” So when He saw them, He said to them, “Go, show yourselves to the priests.” And so it was that as they went, they were cleansed. And one of them, when he saw that he was healed, returned, and with a loud voice glorified God, and fell down on his face at His feet, giving Him thanks. And he was a Samaritan. So Jesus answered and said, “Were there not ten cleansed? But where are the nine? Were there not any found who returned to give glory to God except this foreigner?” And He said to him, “Arise, go your way. Your faith has made you well.”
Luke 17:12-19
This incident in the Bible talks about the importance of thanksgiving. Jesus healed all the ten lepers, but only one returned to Him to glorify Him and thank Him. God is good and His mercy endures for ever. God is willing to heal us and bless us abundantly. In this world there are problems and difficulties. But we believe in the One who said: “
These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.”
John 16:33
We have to trust Him for that and thank Him for what He has given us and what He is capable of. Knowing Him is more important in receiving this abundance of blessings.
Thus says the Lord: “Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, Let not the mighty man glory in his might, Nor let the rich man glory in his riches; But let him who glories glory in this, That he understands and knows Me, That I am the Lord, exercising lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness in the earth. For in these I delight,” says the Lord.
Jeremiah 9:23-24
If you know His boundless bounty you keep thanking Him always. A grateful heart will sing His glory even in the most adverse conditions. He is a compassionate God and He can change these situations into blessings. For that you have to trust Him and thank Him for his goodness and mercy which endures for ever. The three youths in the book of Daniel refused to obey the king who wanted them to worship his statue. They said that the God of Israel was there to save them. Even if He is not willing to save them they were not ready to worship anyone else. They were so grateful and loyal to their God. And God saved them and the gentile king declared that their God was the true God.
Pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.
I Thessalonians 5:17-18
The first step before any prayer should be thanksgiving. That’s the reason the psalmist advocating to enter His presence with thanksgiving. Our loyalty to God, our faithfulness and our unflinching trust in Him are all expressed through thanksgiving.
Prayer
Loving Father, thank you for giving us your Son Jesus to save us from our sins and for granting us the hope of eternity. Thank you Jesus for all that you have given us through your death and resurrection. Thank you Holyspirit for your presence and guidance. Thank you God Almighty.
Sol. Salomi Kurian