Open Heavens 2012-22 December-WHEN THANKSGIVING IS A MUST

Pst. E.A. Adeboye 22 December

WHEN THANKSGIVING IS A MUST

Memorise: Surely the righteous shot! give thanks unto thy name: the upright shall dwelt in thy presence. Psalms 140:13                                    

Read: 140:4-5

An attitude of thanksgiving is another way of recognising the righteous. For the righteous, thanksgiving is a must, and not optional.

Surely the righteous shall give thanks unto thy name: the upright shall dwell in thy presence. Psalms 140:13.

If you find it difficult to give thanks to God, it may be because you are not a righteous fellow. Some people only thank God when He does something new in their lives. Such people are telling God to earn the thanksgiving or else they will keep their mouths shut. It is because they do not know what it means to be righteous. According to David, one thing God expects from His righteous children is thanks. The righteous is never tired of thanking God. He will thank God for the past, the present and for blessings he is yet to see. He will start his prayers by thanking God, make his request and round up the prayers with thanksgiving. He thanks God regularly because he knows that all his achievements and blessings come from God. How often do you give thanks? Are you robbing God in thanksgiving?

The righteous is also identified by the direction of his labours. Proverbs 10:16 says:

The labour of the righteous tendeth to life: the fruit of the wicked to sin.

Whatever you do in life has a direction. Your actions lead either towards righteousness or sin, life or death. If you backbite, you are leading yourself and your sin partner into hell. The righteous deliberately ensures that he or she never invests in anything that will take him or her to hell. Every effort is geared towards impacting life or saving life. The righteous builds his hearer, gives comfort and encouragement to the down cast and makes sinners to receive Jesus through his words. The confessions of the righteous are positive even in negative circumstances. The physical deeds of the righteous are geared towards glorifying God's name. For instance, when he gives to the poor or needy, the motive is right. He does not give to get the praise of men, but to get God's approval. The righteous is so Heaven-conscious that all he does are regulated by the constitution of Heaven. Are you righteous?

ACTION POINT

Let no day pass without giving God thanks.