Thanksgiving: Motivations and Methods

Psalm 100:1-5 (English Standard Version)
1 Make a joyful noise to the LORD, all the earth! 2 Serve the LORD with gladness! Come into his presence with singing! 3 Know that the LORD, he is God! It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture. 4 Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise! Give thanks to him; bless his name! 5 For the LORD is good; his steadfast love endures forever, and his faithfulness to all generations.

7 Motives for Giving Thanks from Psalm 100

We give thanks to God because:

• The LORD is God (verse 3a) — We can be grateful because the Lord is the only God and He has revealed Himself to us.
• He Created Us (verse 3b) — We can be thankful just because we have been allowed to be a part of His creation.
• He Redeemed Us (verse 3c) — Although sin separated us, God provided a way for us to be included in His family. He sent His own Son to pay for our sin so that we could be reunited with Him.
• He Cares for Us (verse 3d) — God cares for His own as a Shepherd who cares for his sheep.
• He is Good (verse 5a) — As God, He could treat us any way He wanted to, but He has chosen to be good to us.
• His Mercy Never Ends (verse 5b) — When it’s difficult to be thankful, think of where you would be without His mercy.
• His Promises Endure (verse 5c) — When He gives His word, He never changes it or reneges on it.

7 Methods for Giving Thanks from Psalm 100

We can give thanks to God in these ways:

• Shout Joyfully (verse 1) — Make a loud noise of joyful, enthusiastic praise.
• Serve Gladly (verse 2a) — We can thank the Lord with our lives, not just our lips. Thankful people are involved in service for the Lord, and they do it gladly.
• Sing to Him (verse 2b) — We can sing to Him when we are alone, or with the church. (see Colossians 3:16)
• Recognize Him (verse 3) — It is too easy for us to overlook God in the everyday events of our lives. We can intentionally acknowledge Him with gratitude.
• Thank Him for What He Does (verse 4a) — Celebrate all that God has done in your life thus far.
• Praise Him for Who He Is (verse 4b) — Praise is expressing our gratitude for Who God is.
• Bless Him (verse 4c) — The Hebrew word for “bless” means to kneel in adoration. One of the greatest methods of giving thanks is being in His presence and adoring Him.