Who are you thanking?

Through Him then, let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that give thanks to His name.  Hebrews 13:15

Writing in a gratitude journal?  Keeping a running list of thankfuls?  Counting your blessings?

It seems everyone has caught onto the idea that being grateful helps us keep our perspective, reduces stress, and helps us negotiate through the rough patches of life.

But my questions for you is….

Who are you thanking?

The author of Hebrews reminds us that we are to offer up a sacrifice of praise to God.

How do we do this–make a sacrifice of praise?  By giving thanks to Him.

Paul tells us in 1 Thessalonians 5:18 that God’s will for us is to give thanks in everything.

Paul models this for us and shows us how it is possible to give thanks in everything.  He tells us in 2 Corinthians 11 how he has been imprisoned, beaten, lashed, stoned, and shipwrecked.  He tells us how he has been in danger from Jews and Gentiles, in danger in the city and in the wilderness, in danger from rivers and the sea, and in danger from robbers and false brethren.  He tells us he has been on many journeys, in labor, and in hardship.  He tells us he has had many sleepless nights, has been hungry and thirsty (often without food), and has been in the cold and without adequate clothing.  He concludes this list of his hardships by telling us he has the internal pressure of being concerned for all the churches.

Yet, through it all, Paul learns the secret of being content.  He tells us in Philippians 4:6 to let God know our requests with thanksgiving.  When we quit being anxious and start being thankful, the peace of God will guard our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus (Phil. 4:7).

When we quit being anxious and start being thankful, the peace of God will guard our hearts and minds.

It matters to whom we are giving thanks.  Are we just being grateful?  Or, are we giving thanks to the Creator, Lord, and Giver of Life?  We want peace, love, and joy.  Our culture tells us that we can have a measure of these simply by being grateful–and being grateful IS a good thing.  However, when we realize to WHOM we are being grateful, we are are suddenly rewarded with an indescribable peace and confidence from the Giver.

When we realize that it is God we are thanking, then He will give us His peace–a peace that defies comprehension–that helps us keep our perspective, reduces our stress, and helps us negotiate through the rough patches of life.