Someone has correctly observed that the thinking process precedes the thanking process. We can’t be thankful for something until we have thought about it.

Before we can begin to thank God from our heart, we have to think about Who He is, and also Who He is to us personally. We must realize that our relationship with Him is what has brought us to where we are.

We can’t think about God without thinking about what Christ did for us in His death, burial, and resurrection. Through Jesus, God has redeemed us and reconciled us to Himself. God raised us up together with Christ and made us sit with Him in heavenly places (Eph. 2:6). Through Jesus, we can enter God’s Presence. In Jesus, all of God’s promises are “yes and amen” (2 Cor. 1:20). That’s something to think about!

It pleases an earthly father when his children are grateful for the things he does for them. In the same way, God—our Heavenly Father—wants His children to be thankful. What does expressing thanks to Him do? It helps us keep our priorities straight. It helps us trust God so we can allow Him to be God in our lives. It enables us to live above the cares and concerns of life. And being thankful helps us remain conscious of God and of spiritual things—things that exist beyond where we are right now.

When we thank and praise God, He inhabits those praises (Ps. 22:3), and we enter into deeper fellowship with Him. We both communicate on a deeper level. Our praise cultivates an atmosphere in which He can move on our behalf.

During this Thanksgiving season, we should spend time thinking about Who God is and how good He has been to us. Then we should thank Him for what He has done and praise Him for what He will do in our lives.