Written by: Dr Pearl Kupe
Article source: JOY! Magazine
It is most fitting for us to start the year with thanksgiving. Many begin the year with promises and pledges, which are usually not kept beyond the first couple of weeks. Others start the year trying to undo the sins of gross overindulgence in the month of December. If we understood the real power of giving thanks, though, we would all start the year with a grateful attitude.
Prayer of thanksgiving
It will be difficult to embrace an attitude of gratitude without prayer. There are different types of prayers that one can pray. Many of us usually pray prayers of supplication and of petition, where we ask God for certain things. Spiritual warfare prayer is militant prayer that we often pray when engaging in battle. The prayer of agreement is another very powerful prayer. Prayers of thanksgiving, however, are not commonly prayed and are prayers that we should get used to praying.
There are many benefits of praying thanksgiving prayers:
INCREASED INTIMACY WITH GOD
With prayers of thanksgiving, one does not approach the throne room of God with a mindset of asking for anything, but with a heart of gratitude and a desire to express appreciation. Many times, we fail to actually appreciate what we have and to embrace the blessings that God loads us with (daily). The worldly attitudes of greed and the constant desire for selfish gain can place us in a position of constantly wanting more and not appreciating what we already have.
MULTIPLICATION AND INCREASE
Increase is yet another benefit of approaching our Father with gratitude and thanksgiving. Although our primary motive in approaching Him is not necessarily to receive, increase happens to be one of the beautiful results of expressing thanksgiving.
The multiplying power of thanksgiving can be demonstrated in two biblical instances:
THE FIVE LOAVES AND TWO FISH
In John 6, we read about the account of the five loaves and two fish. There were multitudes of people in need, but a gross shortage of food. John 6:11, “Then Jesus took the loaves and the fish, gave thanks, and distributed to those who were seated as much as they wanted.” Giving thanks was one of the actions that triggered increase and opened up the heavens to bring an abundant supply. Thanksgiving provokes sufficiency where there is a shortage. We must learn to emulate Yeshua and give thanks instead of constantly crying, complaining, and criticising. Constant complaints will have you moving around in circles going nowhere, like the Israelites for 40 years. Living a life of consistent thanksgiving, on the other hand, will take you to the Promised Land of abundance and multiplication.
STORY OF THE TEN LEPERS
The story of the ten lepers also demonstrates the power of thanksgiving. In Luke 17:11-19, we read about the ten lepers who were healed, and that only one came back to Jesus to express thanksgiving. To the nine lepers, Jesus pronounced healing upon them. The Greek word used was “katharizo”, meaning healed. To the one who gave thanks, Jesus said “soseken”, which speaks of being rescued and of salvation. It is a higher level and dimension of healing. Yeshua told him that he was made whole. The one who expressed thanks moved into a higher dimension of wholeness (as opposed to staying on the level of simple healing).
Starting and ending the year with thanksgiving
When we adopt a lifestyle of thanksgiving, we are moved into a dimension of wholeness, multiplication, and increase! Be encouraged to start and end this year differently. Make gratitude a daily lifestyle and challenge yourself to start and end each day with thanksgiving! It’s time to enter this year with a difference!
This article is featured in the January issue of JOY! Magazine, which is now on sale nationwide! Pick up your copy from any leading supermarket, or read a digital version of this issue here: https://joygifts.co.za/product/joy-magazine-january-issue-2025/
Click here to KEEP UPDATED on the latest news by subscribing to our FREE weekly newsletter.
> Please support Christian media and journalism in South Africa. Help us to spread the Word of God and take a stand for the truth by making a donation to our ministry. We appreciate your support. Click here to take hands with JOY! Magazine.
Date published: 13/01/2025
DR Pearl Kupe – attorney and consultant to world leaders and international organisations. Visit pearlkupe.co.za or email pearl.kupe@gmail.com
Feature image: Image for illustrative purposes only. Artwork from www.freepik.com
DISCLAIMER
JOY! News is a Christian news portal that shares pre-published articles by writers around the world. Each article is sourced and linked to the origin, and each article is credited with the author’s name. Although we do publish many articles that have been written in-house by JOY! journalists, we do not exclusively create our own content. Any views or opinions presented on this website are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of the company.
