It seems like hearing someone say, "thank you" is becoming more and more rare these days. Or maybe that's just me. And I openly and freely admit that I don't always offer my gratitude all the time. I'm working on it. So let's keep talking about why we should give thanks.

Let us come before His presence with thanksgiving; - Psalm 95:2

We give thanks because we're told to. We are to come to God with thanksgiving. And it's not just out of obligation or duty that we do so. If you're offering thanks to anyone out of just courtesy or sheer obligation, you should take some time to look inside and see what's wrong with your heart.

Why would something be wrong with you? You're not seeing things as they really are. Scripture repeatedly talks about people having their eyes "opened." Not because they were physically blind, but spiritually. So what is it that you could be missing? What aren't you seeing?

Sure, it's easy to believe that someone who does something for you could just be a "good" person or is just doing something out of the kindness of their own heart for you, but you know what? That's not scriptural. No one is good but God (Matthew 19:17, Mark 10:18, Luke 18:19). So what's the deal then?

We're told that all things are through Jesus (Romans 11:36, 1 Corinthians 8:6, Hebrews 2:10, 2 Peter 1:3). And then we take note that Jesus said in John 14:10 that the Father does the works through Him. And we also know that every good and perfect gift is from God (James 1:17). If it's not good, if it's not perfect, it's not from Him. Sidenote If something steals, kills, or destroys anything of yours, that's the enemy. Jesus came that you might have an exceedingly active and vigorous life, both physical and spiritual (John 10:10).

So you see, God provides for us through Jesus. And that happens by the hand of others. When someone does something good for you - when that perfect action takes place or that perfect "thing" shows up - it's God working through that person (whether they know it or acknowledge it or not).

There have been times where something I've prayed about and been believing God for manifested through someone and my immediate (audible) response was, "glory to God! Thank you, Jesus!" And then I thanked the individual, explaining to them what that was all about. In that way - by sharing my testimony regarding that situation - God gets the glory and Jesus is magnified.

You don't have to come before God with thanksgiving. It's not a requirement. He's happy that you come to Him. But that show of appreciation goes a long way because it's a part of acknowledging, honoring, worshiping, praising, and glorifying Him.

If not God, who are you acknowledging, honoring, worshiping, praising, and glorifying?