AN ATTITUDE OF THANKSGIVING

Praise and worship should be a daily practice in our everyday living!

Some think that it should only be done at church on Sundays but that's not what the Bible teaches us.

The story of Daniel and the lions is a good example to demonstrate this.
Let's look at Daniel 6:10: Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went into his house; and his windows being open in his chamber toward Jerusalem, he kneeled upon his knees three times a day, and prayed, AND GAVE THANKS BEFORE HIS GOD, AS HE DID BEFORE.

Notice the words "as he did before."
If you've read the story, you'll remember that there was a decree made where no one could worship any other gods except the King. 

However, Daniel didn't have to worry about this situation because he knew who his God was.
Nothing could stop him from worshipping God - not even if it meant being thrown into the lions den!

See, when you truly KNOW who your God is, nothing can stop you from praising and worshipping Him!
Just like Daniel, you will experience the miraculous in your life when you are a thankful person to God.
The more thankful you are, the more you'll begin to see your prayers answered!

Now, the consequences of unthankfulness are very dangerous!
In the natural, we would definetly stay away from things that are poisonous and harmful to our body but many of us don't realise that even unthankfulness is a killer!

In the Old Covenant, when we read about the children of Israel, many times we see that they were unthankful to God. 

God was always faithful to provide everything they needed but when they approached a crisis, immediately they started grumbling and complaining.
These people only thanked God when everything went well in their lives.
As a result, many of them died in the wilderness and could not experience the blessings God had for them in the promised land.

Now let us understand that God wasn't the one who destroyed them - it was Satan. 

John 10:10 tells us that Satan is the one who steals, kills and destroys. God is the author of abundant life!

These examples are mentioned in the Bible for us to learn from them and also so that we wouldn't have to face the same consequences that they went through.

Whenever you've felt a sense of spiritual dryness in your life, it could be because of a lack of praising and worshipping God.
As said before, praise and worship should be a daily part of our lives and not just done at church.

Even Jesus himself had a thankful heart to His Father! (Matthew 14:19)

Philippians 4:6 says: Be careful for nothing; but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.

The qualification for an answer to prayer is to throw aside care and start thanking God.
In a prayer of faith, our response is to go before the Lord with thanksgiving even before seeing the answer.

So when you come to God in prayer, don't start telling Him all of your needs, instead start praising and worshipping Him. By doing this continually, all those cares and worries would seem so small to you because you've chosen to magnify the greatness of God!! Hallelujah!

Thankfulness should be a habit in your life! The more you do it, the more you'll begin to hear God's voice and make right decisions in life. You'll also start to grow in the spirit and see an attitude change in your life!

Here are some scriptures on thankfulness:

Zephaniah 3:17

The LORD thy God in the midst of thee is mighty; he will save, he will rejoice over thee with joy; he will rest in his love, he will joy over thee with singing.

Colossians 1:10-12

10  That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God;
11  Strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness;
12  Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light:

Ephesians 5:19-20

19  Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord;
20  Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ;

1 Thessalonians 5:18

In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.