Before we begin, a personal testimony!

I want you to know why I am sharing this message and understand that I am not just sharing head knowledge.

When I got divorced, I had to say goodbye to my children. I was not sure when I would see them again, and knowing they could not understand what was happening, was heartbreaking. I said what I could to them on the porch, walked inside and to the front door to exit. For a moment, before leaving the house, I backed up against the door and made a sound like an animal. It was the most heart renching moment of my life. The days and months that followed were not easy. Many days I felt like not wanting to wake up or get out of bed. I had learned in my head, the scripture that reads:

Isaiah 61:3 NKJV [3] To console those who mourn in Zion, To give them beauty for ashes, The oil of joy for mourning, The garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; That they may be called trees of righteousness, The planting of the LORD, that He may be glorified." 

But how do you do that?

How do you put on such a garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness, when you feel like that? Such heaviness is overwhelming.

Well, by the grace of God, I did learn to do it and it made such a difference in the months that followed. For example. I was working in Stellenbosch, at King Arthur’s restaurant. I would leave from the Southern Suburbs feeling like death. The journey took about 40 minutes or so.

My job at the restaurant was to manage it during the day and in the evening my job changed to playing live music. Imagine having to  greet customers with a smile or sing, when you feel like that. (It reminded me of the “By the rivers of Babylon song: "How can we sing one of the songs of Zion, by the rivers of Babylon) 

Anyway, I would start to put on the garment of praise in the car on the way to work. I would say to God: "This feels so stupid. Whatever I say is hitting the roof of my car and bouncing back at me. I do not feel like I am getting through to You!" It took everything to continue to praise and give thanks under the circumstance. But, low and behold, by the time I would reach Stellenbosch, I was a different person! The next day would start again with heaviness and then the garment of praise would give me the relief I so desperately needed. So, now you know why I so badly want to share this message, “In Everything Given Thanks”, with you.

There are 52 scriptures that encourage us to give thanks. One for every week of the year. The one that has perhaps meant the most to me is this one. 

1 Thessalonians 5:18 [18] in everything give thanks; for this is the will of Elohim in Messiah Yeshua for you. It is easy to give thanks, when everything is going well. But can you do it, when all is going wrong and anxiety starts to grip your heart? 

If you learn to give thanks in everything, you will also be on your way to becoming an overcomer under all circumstances. 

When we look up these 52 verses, you will find that giving of “thanks” is often linked with the word “praise” in the same verse, such as is found in the following examples:

2 Samuel 22:50 NKJV [50] 
Therefore I will give thanks to You, O YHVH, among the Gentiles, And sing praises to Your name. 

Psalm 30:4-5 NKJV [4] 
Sing praise to YHVH, you saints of His, And give thanks at the remembrance of His holy name. [5] For His anger is but for a moment, His favour is for life; Weeping may endure for a night, But joy comes in the morning.

You see giving praise and thanking God in a difficult situation, shows your faith in Him. It shows that you trust your Heavenly Father. It pleases Him and He responds and your enemies in the spirit realm, now aware of your faith and the reality of your heavenly Father’s power, start to scatter, and your problems soon vanish away.  

And when that happens you should testify of His goodness to others. 

1 Chronicles 16:8 NKJV [8] 
Oh, give thanks to YHVH! Call upon His name; Make known His deeds among the peoples! 

We should do all we can not to forget to give thanks to the Father and Yeshua our saviour and also anyone who help us. 

Paul showed such appreciation: 

Romans 16:4 NKJV 
[4] who risked their own necks for my life, to whom not only I give thanks, but also all the churches of the Gentiles. 

Yeshua was surprised, when people failed to show their appreciation: 

Luke 17:15-18 NKJV [15] And one of them, when he saw that he was healed, returned, and with a loud voice glorified God, [16] and fell down on his face at His feet, giving Him thanks. And he was a Samaritan.

 [17] So Jesus answered and said, "Were there not ten cleansed? But where are the nine? [18] Were there not any found who returned to give glory to God except this foreigner?"

Yeshua himself also gave thanks for daily food. (This is likely why so many in Christian homes do so today.)

Luke 22:19 NKJV [19] And He took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, "This is My body which is given for you; do this in remembrance of Me."

Knowing what he has done, should we not do as the early believers did, and break bread with one another and show our appreciation for what Yeshua and the Father have done for us? Of course we should. 

Psalm 136:26 NKJV 
[26] Oh, give thanks to the God of heaven! For His mercy endures forever. 

King Solomon reminds us how sad it is, when nobody remembers to say thank you, and we need to be aware when we help others, not to look for thanks, or be disappointed when it is not shown. Man is often not grateful, at least until they are humbled by life or come to the knowledge of God through His scriptures.

Ecclesiastes 9:13-15 NKJV [13] 
This wisdom I have also seen under the sun, and it seemed great to me: [14] There was a little city with few men in it; and a great king came against it, besieged it, and built great snares around it.

 [15] Now there was found in it a poor wise man, and he by his wisdom delivered the city. Yet no one remembered that same poor man. 

So be grateful in every circumstance, in everything, whether good or bad, for our Father will be watching your heart. As you do this, in faith, no matter if it feels good to you or not. (It likely will not, but the impact will not be dependent on your feelings.  But rather on your determination of faith, to do as He says to do, expectantly.) The you will grow in overcoming and your faith will reward you.

Psalm 106:47 NKJV [47] Save us, O YHVH our Elohim, And gather us from among the Gentiles, To give thanks to Your holy name, To triumph in Your praise.  

See in this final scripture, how King David is dealing with adversity. Let us trust for the Spirit do likewise. 

Psalm 6:2-5 NKJV 
[2] Have mercy on me, O LORD, for I am weak; O LORD, heal me, for my bones are troubled. [3] My soul also is greatly troubled; But You, O LORD-how long? [4] Return, O LORD, deliver me! Oh, save me for Your mercies' sake! [5] For in death there is no remembrance of You; In the grave who will give You thanks?

WHY NOT TRY IT NOW?

Why not take a little time now and just give Him thanks for all he has done for you, even in creating you and the world of beautiful things, which you appreciate. And then perhaps thank Him for paying the price He paid on the cross, so that you can receive mercy, and not be held accountable for the sins you have confessed and repented of. And then anything else you can think of. 

Perhaps you are going through a difficult time. Give thanks. He can bring from such a time, a better future and a better you! 

In everything give thanks!

I have a Give Thanks song, that you might enjoy:

 Psalm 92 - Give Thanks

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