More Than Words: The Starting Point of Thanks

Thanksgiving might not be here yet, but as United Methodists and followers of Christ, we are called to live with ongoing gratitude. Sometimes, we treat thanks as just a polite phrase or a quick thought before eating. But what if thanksgiving is more than that? What if it shapes how we live and how we meet God?
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            The Scriptures certainly suggest this is the case. Take, for example, the joyful invitation in Psalm 100. It's not a quiet contemplation; it's a vibrant, active call to worship: "Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth." This psalm beautifully outlines a path for entering God's presence, and notice where thanks fits in: action. Verse 4 says, "Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise. Give thanks to him; bless his name."

            Thanksgiving is not just something we do after we feel God's presence; it is the way in. It is the active attitude we take to begin praising. Why is this important? When we recognize and appreciate what God has done, our focus changes. As verse 3 says, "Know that the Lord is God. It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people and the sheep of his pasture." Simply being God's people is a reason for deep gratitude. This is what it means for gratitude to be more than words—it is knowing who we truly are.

            The power of this active thanks is echoed by the Apostle Paul in his letter to the Philippians. He gives us a practical, life-changing instruction in Philippians 4:6-7: "Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."

            Here, thanksgiving is more than worship; it is a key to finding peace. When we feel anxious, Paul encourages us to pray with thanksgiving. This changes everything. When we are stressed, our prayers can become lists of worries or desperate requests. But if we include thanks in our prayers, even for small blessings or simply for God's faithfulness, it changes how we pray and how we feel. Starting with thanks reminds us that God is with us, even in hard times, and that God has always been faithful. When we do this, Paul says we will experience God's peace, which is beyond our understanding.

            Friends, this is good news for all of us. Thanksgiving is what brings us closer to God and helps us move from anxiety to peace. It is more than just words; it is the attitude of a grateful heart that turns worry into worship and fear into faith. Let’s begin each day with this mindset.