Daily Digest: Capstone Capsule

“Enter into His gates with THANKSGIVING, and into His courts with praise. BE THANKFUL to Him, and bless His name” – Psalm 100:4-5

There are splendid benefits and impactful rewards to cultivating the Attitude and LIFESTYLE of GRATITUDE: “Enter into His gates with THANKSGIVING, and into His courts with PRAISE. BE THANKFUL to Him, and bless His name” (Psa. 100: 4-5). Gratitude is the key to the Gates into God’s Courts of Praise. Gratitude is active, not passive. It originates from the heart, but manifests openly! Thanksgiving is visible; rarely hidden! God calls us to walk in the Way of Gratitude: “Therefore by Him let us CONTINUALLY offer the sacrifice of PRAISE to God, that is, the fruit of our lips, GIVING THANKS to His name” (Heb.13:15).

We are not called to erratic thanksgiving or seasonal gratitude: “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” (Phil.4: 6-7). When the Attitude of Gratitude is consistent, God’s Peace will be perpetual in our lives! Our Thanksgiving must be ALWAYS and FOR ALL THINGS – pleasant or not: “GIVING THANKS ALWAYS FOR ALL THINGS to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ (Eph. 5:20).

Gratitude grants us access into God’s Presence, for flourishing and fruitfulness: “It is good to give thanks to the Lord, and to sing praises to Your name…Those who are planted in the house of the Lord shall flourish in the courts of our God. They shall still bear fruit in old age; they shall be fresh and flourishing” (Psa. 92:1, 13-14). Those who unfailingly give God thanks will never lose value. We show gratitude to God by songs, praises, worship, thanksgiving, testimonies, and giving of substance to honour Him (Psa.26:7, 69:30, 106:1; Lk.17:15-17). Gratitude is the best Attitude. It sustains every worthy spiritual exercise (Col.3:17).

When things look dismal, we can still trust God to help turn our frowns into smiles. This could be through a simple compliment or word of encouragement that boosts our mood, a real or virtual hug, or meditating on inspiring verses or quotes about gratitude that help us reflect on God’s blessings. The more we meditate on His Words about being thankful, the more we develop the Attitude and Lifestyle of Gratitude! On our part, every utterance and action should spur this same attitude in others: “While you are enriched in everything for all liberality, which causes thanksgiving through us to God” (2Cor.9:11)

We must learn to give ceaseless thanks to the God Who gives us the Victory and perpetual Triumph in Christ: “But THANKS be to God, who GIVES us the VICTORY through our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Cor.15:57); “Now thanks be to God who ALWAYS leads us in TRIUMPH in Christ, and through us diffuses the fragrance of His knowledge in EVERY PLACE (2Cor.2:14).