Thankfulness is the language of the Kingdom of God.

Praise and thankfulness for God’s love, grace, and His many blessings in our lives impresses Him. Without an attitude of gratitude, one cannot go far with God. If you have children, are you not supremely happy when they are grateful for the things you do for them? Do you not rejoice when they grow and mature and are happy adults who can make good decisions for themselves? Well, God is a Father…our original Father.

God is  always positive. As born-again new creations, we have been given His nature. We have been given His mind. 1 Corinthians 2:16 says we have the mind of Christ Jesus. We have access to the thoughts and plans of God. We have been delivered out of satan’s kingdom of darkness and placed into the kingdom of God’s light. We have much to be grateful for. All of our sins have been forgiven. If you haven’t experienced forgiveness of sins, man, you have not yet LIVED! He has provided healing for our bodies and provision for the things we need every day of our lives. He has a plan, a roadmap for our lives, a plan made before we were ever born. We are His children. If He takes care of the birds of the air, as Matthew 6:26 says, how much more will He provide for us? As Romans 8:32 says, “He who did not withhold his only Son, how will he not freely give us all other things?”

The Israelites in the Book of Exodus, who were delivered out of Egypt by the hand of Moses, perpetually grumbled and complained in the wilderness…and then died without reaching the Promised Land. God is not pleased when we grumble and complain, as it reveals a lack of faith and gratitude. “Without faith it is impossible to please Him” the book of Hebrews (Heb. 11:6) says. When a problem arose, their response was to fall into doom and gloom thinking, with no thought to what they had previously seen God do for them. He had rescued them at the Red Sea, delivering them from certain death at the hands of the Egyptian army. There were times when they had no water, they had no food, etc. and they saw Him supernaturally provide for them. They saw wonderful miracles on their behalf that proved the care and love of God for them. But they failed to take it into their hearts. That first generation that came out of Egypt never got into the Promised Land because of their attitudes. They never changed or grew in their faith. God was displeased with their constant grumbling and complaining. He is not pleased when we do it either.

The scriptures are full of admonitions to give praise and thanksgiving to our God. To do this consistently takes practice. To truly glorify Him, we need to give full expression of our love for Him, in song, in dance, in worship. Dancing is the way our full being expresses joy to Him. He loves our expressions of joy and adoration. King David danced before the Lord because of his love for God. The Israelites, after the miracle they saw at the Red Sea, danced and sang and celebrated that powerful act of deliverance. These expressions of gratitude actually help US and are very pleasing to God. Heaven is a place of constant celebration, dancing and praise to God.

Psalm 103…Bless the Lord oh my soul, and all that is within me, bless His holy name; bless the Lord oh my soul, and forget not all His benefits, who forgives all your iniquities, who heals all your diseases…

Psalm 92… It is good to give thanks to the Lord and to sing praises to your name, O Most High, to declare your lovingkindness in the morning and  Your faithfulness every night

Psalm 150…Praise the Lord. Praise the Lord.