Mike Walsh

As a parent we love to hear our kids say “Thank you.” We love it when they appreciate what we do for them. Something special happens when our children see what we do for them and the sacrifice that we made to give them something special.  When our kids say thank you, it is a sign of maturity and it shows that our kids are growing up with a right heart. We appreciate those times with our kids, but I also believe that God appreciates it when his children see his goodness and take a moment to say, “Thank you, Lord, I know that that blessing came from you!”

In Luke 17:11-19 it tells us that God cares about our gratitude:

“Now it happened as he went to Jerusalem that he passed through the midst of Samaria and Galilee. Then as he entered a certain village, there met him 10 men who were lepers, who stood far off.

“And they lifted up their voices and said, ‘Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!’

“So when he saw them, he said to them, ‘Go, show yourselves to the priests.’

“And so it was that as they went, they were cleansed. And one of them, when he saw that he was healed, returned, and with a loud voice glorified God, and fell down on his face at his feet, giving him thanks. And he was a Samaritan. So Jesus answered and said, ‘Were there not 10 cleansed? But where are the nine? Were there not any found who returned to give glory to God except this foreigner?’

“And he said to him, ‘Arise, go your way. Your faith has made you well.’”

So this passage says they were cleansed on their way, but only one came back to say, “Thank you, Jesus.” Jesus asked him, “Weren’t all 10 healed? Where are the other nine?” 

Jesus’ question to the one Samaritan who came back, shows us that Jesus notices our gratitude. Just like we as parents notice our children being grateful to us. When we are grateful, it speaks to the heart of God about our heart towards him.

Here are a few ways that we can show our gratitude towards God.

1, By praising him in our daily lives: This is a constant theme of the Bible that tells us that we should always praise the Lord for his work in our lives. His praise should always be on our lips. Give God his due credit for what he does in your life, we have so much to be thankful for.

“Sing to the Lord with thanksgiving; Sing praises on the harp to our God,” Psalm 147:7 reads.

2.  By praying to him often: “Give thanks to the Lord and pray to him.” Psalm 105:1 says.

3.  By giving to the Lord; We don’t just give at church, we give to the Lord when we see someone in need and we obey the Lord in helping others.

“Give an offering to show thanks to God. Give Him what you promised,” Psalm 50:14 says.

4.  By sharing with others the good things that God has done in your life:

“Thank the Lord! Praise his name! Tell the world about his wondrous love and how mighty he is,” says Isaiah 12:4.

A thankful heart is a healthy heart. Take a moment today and survey the good things that God has done in your life! As we thank the Lord, our gratitude will only grow!

(Mike Walsh is the pastor at Glad Tidings Assembly of God.)