The Power of Thanks

To Remember Why We Give Thanks 

11/16/25 The Power of Thanks

To Remember Why We Give Thanks

Let’s continue in our series of “The Power Of Thanks”

Sometimes it is not only right, but it is beneficial to express gratitude to another.

To Remember That Thanksgiving Is A Choice.

Beth Rittler decided to contact people in her past that had been meaningful to her. She wrote letters or made telephone calls to many old friends and acquaintances. One letter went to a popular boy in her class who had paid attention to her, she was a shy and awkward girl with low self-esteem. Even though they were not really friends. She located him and sent a letter. He responded with a phone call and now, 25 years after they were schoolmates, they are husband and wife.

Thanksgiving is a discipline that carries far beyond one holiday.

We can make it a lifestyle.

“Thanksliving” will bring grace to others and benefit to ourselves.

I want us to look at the story

of the 10 leper’s.

Luke 17:11–19 (NKJV) 11 Now it happened as He went to Jerusalem that He passed through the midst of Samaria and Galilee. 12 Then as He entered a certain village, there met Him ten men who were lepers, who stood afar off. 13 And they lifted up their voices and said, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!” 14 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. 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?” 19 And He said to him, “Arise, go your way. Your faith has made you well.”

A lot is said in these few verse’s. It’s so easy in our USA lifestyle to take for granted all that we have, but when we have a thankful heart, it changes our perspective in life.

I have found in my life that Gratitude fuels my faith. The more thankful I am for what God has done in my life, it seem’s the more that come’s.

Let’s look at some points at this story.

Thanksgiving is a choice.

He didn’t care what the other 9 did, he came back to glorify God.

Luke 17:15–16 (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.

I can make a decision today, to glorify God or not.

Psalm 118:24 (NKJV) 24 This is the day the Lord has made; We will rejoice and be glad in it.

Joshua 24:15 (NKJV) 15 And if it seems evil to you to serve the Lord, choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”

When we do this in our homes, it goes down to each generation.

Psalm 145:4 (NKJV) 4 One generation shall praise Your works to another, And shall declare Your mighty acts.

“Gratitude is the inward feeling of kindness received. Thankfulness is the natural impulse to express that feeling.” – Henry Van Dyke

2. Thanksgiving Demonstrates Humility.

Luke 17:16 (NKJV) 16 and fell down on his face at His feet, giving Him thanks. And he was a Samaritan.

When we are humble, God lifts us up.

“A proud man is seldom a grateful man, for he never thinks he gets as much as he deserves.” – Henry Ward Beecher

James 4:6 (NKJV) 6 But He gives more grace. Therefore He says: “God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble.”

When NBA star Steph Curry wins, he points upward. Reporters asked why. He said, “I’m just thankful — everything I have comes from God.”

Micah 6:8 (NKJV) 8 He has shown you, O man, what is good; And what does the Lord require of you But to do justly, To love mercy, And to walk humbly with your God?

George Washington’s 1789 Thanksgiving Proclamation came right after the hardships of war. He humbled himself before God, declaring that this new nation owed all success “to the providence of Almighty God.”

“Gratitude looks up and says, ‘God did this!’” – Max Lucado

3. Thanksgiving is Loud and Unashamed.

Luke 17:15 (NKJV) 15 And one of them, when he saw that he was healed, returned, and with a loud voice glorified God,

Psalm 100:1–2 (NKJV) 1 Make a joyful shout to the Lord, all you lands! 2 Serve the Lord with gladness; Come before His presence with singing.

Psalm 95:1 (NKJV) 1 Oh come, let us sing to the Lord! Let us shout joyfully to the Rock of our salvation.

“Gratitude is not only the greatest of virtues, but the parent of all others.” – Cicero

Psalm 107:8–9 (NKJV) 8 Oh, that men would give thanks to the Lord for His goodness, And for His wonderful works to the children of men! 9 For He satisfies the longing soul, And fills the hungry soul with goodness.

4. Thanksgiving Brings Wholeness.

Luke 17:19 (NKJV) 19 And He said to him, “Arise, go your way. Your faith has made you well.”

Luke 17:19 (KJV) 19 And he said unto him, Arise, go thy way: thy faith hath made thee whole.

This gives us confidence that He will complete the work in us.

Philippians 1:6 (NKJV) 6 being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ;

Isaiah 53:5 (NKJV) 5 But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, And by His stripes we are healed.

The ten were healed, but only one was made whole. Healing touches the body, but thanksgiving heals the soul.

5. Thanksgiving Sets Us Apart.

When you thank God publicly, you step out of the crowd and into His presence.

Luke 17:17–18 (NKJV) 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?”

We shouldn’t care what other’s think, we are set apart by God.

Gratitude sets you apart, it invites miracles others miss.

1 Peter 2:9–10 (NKJV) 9 But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; 10 who once were not a people but are now the people of God, who had not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy.

“Feeling gratitude and not expressing it is like wrapping a present and not giving it.” – William Arthur Ward

This week, Remember all that God has done in your life and what He is still doing. He is the God of Yesterday, today and tomorrow.

Like the Pilgrims who model deliberate thanksgiving, Remembering God’s past provisions, strengthens present Faith and Hope.

I changed what I have been writing in my Journal, and now I put on the Header, I GIVE THANK’S TODAY FOR”

I want to remember each day, what God has done and is doing. He is a good, good Father. Amen

Join with me this week as we continue to Remember Why we give Thank, on our DAILY DISCIPLESHIP, Q-R Code.

AND ALSO DAILY PRAYER.

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