Give Thanks At All Times

by Michael Youssef, Ph.D.

As Americans celebrate Thanksgiving this week, many will reflect on God’s blessings in their lives. It can be easy to appreciate the wonderful gifts God gives to us and the way that He provides for us. But I wonder how many of us are thankful for the unplanned and inconvenient circumstances which we may be facing. Scripture tells us to “give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus” (1 Thessalonians 5:18, NIV). Developing a truly grateful heart — one that can be thankful every day and in all circumstances — can be challenging.

	The four keys to developing a grateful heart: Determination, Promptness, Intensity, and Humility

When I think of a grateful attitude, I think of the story of the 10 men who cried out to Jesus and were later healed of leprosy. The story, found in Luke 17:11-19, recounts how only one of these cleansed men — a Samaritan — returned to Christ to thank Him. I encourage you to read it today.

What made this man who expressed his gratefulness so different from the others? What are the characteristics of a thankful heart? In studying this Scripture, I have complied four characteristics of a thankful heart for us to consider:

1. Determination. This man returned to Jesus alone. He was a Samaritan; the others were Jews. He could have said, “Why should I go back when Jesus’ own fellow Jews didn’t?” He could have said, “I will wait until they go back to Jesus, and then I will go with them.” But he did not. Why? Because a grateful heart delights in thanksgiving. We can’t measure our thankfulness by others — even if they seem to be more spiritual or better versed in Scripture.

2. Promptness. This Samaritan went back to Christ almost immediately. Did God bless you today? Thank Him immediately! Did God’s hand of protection shroud you today? Thank Him immediately. Did God’s hand lead you? Thank Him on the spot. Don’t wait until prayer time or until you go to church — or when people can see you and hear you.

3. Intensity. This man was not satisfied with a shaking-of-the-hand kind of thanks. He returned and with a loud voice glorified God. But he didn’t do so to show off or to attract attention. He wanted the world to know the intensity of his gratitude — he did not want that to be a secret.

4. Humility. This man fell on his face at Jesus’ feet, as if to say, “Jesus, without Your love, without Your grace, without Your healing, I am nothing.” And then, in verses 17 and 18 — when Jesus asks, “Where are the other nine? Was no one found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner?” — there is an opportunity for this man to really blow it. He could have said, “Well, Jesus, the others are not as thankful as I am.” But he didn’t. This man’s true humility did not point out the weakness of others.

	“This man was not satisfied with a shaking-of-the-hand kind of thanks … He wanted the world to know the intensity of his gratitude — he did not want that to be a secret.”

Finally, a heart of thankfulness carries with it its own blessings. The man who returned to express his appreciation to Christ received a special spiritual blessing on top of his physical healing. All of the lepers were healed, yet this thankful Samaritan received not only life, but also eternal life. Jesus said to him, “Rise and go; your faith has made you well” (Luke 17:19, NIV).

When Scripture exalts us to give thanks at all times and in all things, it is because thankfulness carries with it a special blessing that you cannot put a commercial value on. As we approach the Thanksgiving season in the United States, may we examine our own lives and make it a priority to develop hearts of thankfulness — not just on the fourth Thursday of November, but every day.

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