Of the 48 times in the Bible in which we are called to “give thanks,” all 48 tell us God is to be the One we thank. That doesn’t mean that we should never say thanks to people. Paul certainly gave thanks to the Philippian Church for their support of him. The priority, however, is giving thanks to God.

Why does He need to be the priority for our thanksgiving? Here are a few good reasons: God has given us our very lives. We would not be alive were it not for Him. We are forgiven of all our sins through faith in His Son, Jesus Christ. We are born again as a direct result of His choosing and calling. It is a gift of God. Every good thing we have in this life, houses, cars, spouses, children, jobs, finances, love, hope comes from Him. The list could go on and on.

There are two approaches to giving thanks to God, a) thanking Him for His blessings, what He’s done for us and b) giving Him thanks for who He is. We often do the former but seldom the latter. Few of us thank God for who He is. We thank Him for His provision of food when we eat meals. We thank Him for supplying our needs and answering our prayers but we seldom thank Him for who He is.

Here are a few reasons to give thanks for who God is. These reasons are broken down into two types: a) qualities that mark God alone and b) qualities which He desires in us. Here are the type one reasons to give thanks to the Lord: God is eternal (timeless), immutable (never changing), omnipresent (always there), omniscient (knows all), omnipotent (all powerful), sovereign (the King of everything), causa sui (self-existent, cause of Himself). 

Here are the type two reasons to give thanks to the Lord: He is: holy (without sin), free (independent), love (sacrificial action), one (undivided), just (justice), truth, life (alive). All of these are qualities He desires in us.

So, while you are bent over your thanksgiving meal to pray and thank Him for His gracious provision, take some time during the day to thank Him for who He is. Our God is an awesome God!

To God be the glory, great things He hath done,

Irv