Giving thanks sets the table for praise and praise is the first course of worship and worship culminates in deep relationship.
The whole idea of the song between the
bride and the bridegroom is heaven kissing the earth with mercy and grace and
the earth kissing heaven back with thanks and praise. It’s an endless
conversation of intimacy.
Let's consider Paul’s description
of love in 1 Corn. 13. It’s all predicated on this same song between
heaven and earth. The foundation of love is relationship. Why would a person be
patient, kind, not given to jealousy or boasting? Why would a person be immune
to irritability, keep no record of wrongs, or refuse to rejoice about injustice,
but only rejoice in the truth? Why would a person refuse to give up, always
have faith and endure, never failing? (1 Corn. 13.4-8.
This type of love is only possible in
the context of deep relationship and that deep relationship is built on giving
thanks.
Even on a purely human, everyday life
level, giving thanks has an effect. If we are thankful to someone who helps us, to someone who does a good job, to someone who sticks up for us, to
someone who treats us well, the person receiving the thanks is more
inclined to continue helping, doing a good job, sticking up for us and treating us with kindness.
It’s human nature. It’s built into us to respond to thanks. When we say “thank you,” we are giving another person
the opportunity to say “you’re welcome.” It’s an affirmation of worth, it’s a
blessing in disguise. It’s encouragement to keep going and to do better.
It’s in our nature to respond to thanks
because we’re made in God's image and God put it in us for our own good.
Far more is accomplished on earth through the
simple act of giving thanks than by cynicism and sarcasm.
Even more so on the spiritual
level.
When we give God thanks, we are
acknowledging God's presence and that’s like taking a multiple vitamin for our
soul.
Remember Mary’s (Jesus' Mom) magnificat? What she said in response to her cousin
Elizabeth’s acknowledgment of being the mother of Jesus? Mary said, “My soul
magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my savior…”
She went on to give a litany of thanks, “…He
who is mighty has done great things for me…holy is His name…His mercy is on
those who fear him…He has shown strength with His arm….He has exalted the lowly…He
has filled the hungry with good things…” (Luke 1.46-52)
As Mary traveled from her home to
Elizabeth’s she had time to ponder, to think about what the angel Gabriel had
told her. She time to consider what was happening to her and what God was
accomplishing with her. So, by the time Elizabeth greeted her with “Blessed are
you among women…” Mary’s heart was in a place of deep thanks.
That wellspring of thanks that poured
out of Mary’s heart was founded on a deep relationship that fed trust and hope
to the core of her soul.
We can sing our own magnificat.
photo credit: www.turnbacktogod.com
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