Giving Thanks, a Christmas Adventure – Day Twelve

We’ve looked at Paul’s example of gratitude and we’re about to look at other of his admonitions for us to be thankful, but first I want to say something about expressing thanksgiving.

I wouldn’t dream of making an over-arching ruling here, but I’ll share my opinion and experience on whether or not it is important to voice our prayers, our acknowledgement, our thanksgivings, aloud. While I know that God hears our thoughts and even our moans, I can tell you that even if He doesn’t need me to speak aloud, I’ve learned that I need to, that I have to, even!

First, I need to hear myself open my mouth, form words, and give thanks. There is interesting science behind this, by the way. Studies prove that reading or speaking aloud to yourself is an excellent way to increase your level of concentration. Research has proven that some areas of the brain actually shut down when we speak, and other areas seem to tune in, to ramp up their activity so to speak—therefore helping us to focus.

Of course, beyond science, we have a Divine example of opening our mouths to bless. Remember when we said that God was the original giver, we said that He blessed first? Let’s go back to the scriptural account of the garden and the first mention of blessing. Note that God opened his mouth and blessed. Note how many times God is recorded to have “blessed them and SAID”. Could there be a better reason to speak words of blessing than merely thinking them? When God blesses, He gives. Our act of giving thanks blesses God and in turn benefits us. Again, we’re back to the thank offerings, back to the feast of the fellowship table. Practicing eucharisteō brings contentment because it leads us to abide in Abba.

I love Hosea 14:3, Take words with you and return to the LORD. Say to Him, “Take away all iniquity and receive us graciously, that we may present the fruit of our lips.”  MOST INTERESTING—the original translation from Hebrew text of the word fruit is “calves” or “bulls” of our lips.

For starters, I love the “take words with you” part of this verse. How do you feel when someone knows they’ve been ugly to you and yet they try to resume the relationship without addressing the elephant in the room? Exactly! Or how about this, how do you feel when you can’t get someone you love to talk to you about what’s on their heart? TAKE WORDS WITH YOU AND RETURN TO THE LORD.

Thru Him then, let us continue to offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that give thanks to His name. Hebrews 13.15

Where the tribes of Israel once laid animals on the altar as burnt offerings and thank offerings, we lay ourselves as living sacrifices, our words “the fruit of our lips” as thank offerings, thru the peace of Christ.

Thru Him then, let us continue to offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that give thanks to His name. Hebrews 13.15

Colossians 3:17, “And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.”

But, Shellie, why can’t I sit in my devotional time, or when I get a moment to myself in the car and think on His blessings without praying aloud? I’m not talking about isolated incidents of meditation during prayer. I’m speaking more of our prayer “habits” for lack of a better word. I just believe that the more we practice acknowledgement of Him the more we fall in love with Him and the more we have to open our mouth to express it.

Colossians 2: 6-7 Therefore as you have received Christ Jesus the Lord so walk in Him, having been firmly rooted and now being built up in Him, and established in your faith just as you were instructed and overflowing with gratitude. NASB

Tell me, can you overflow with gratitude and not open your mouth? I don’t think so. The very definition of over flow is: to fill to capacity and spread beyond its limits. This picture of overflowing gratitude sounds like something that is expressed because it can’t be contained, something that can’t be hidden. But the proof of the pudding is in the word gratitude in this verse which is again translated — an expression of thanksgiving.