Protocols, Postures and Power of ThanksgivingSample

ENTITLEMENT AND PRIDE: TWO SILENCERS OF THANKS

Another enemy of thanksgiving is entitlement — treating blessings as rights. Children raised around abundance can easily assume life owes them; parents must therefore train them to recognise grace and to say “thank you” properly. Do not allow a spirit that believes the world is in their debt; be the one who opens doors of blessing through gratitude and honour. David danced before the LORD with all his might, acknowledging that every lift in his life was God-made, not self-made (2 Samuel 6). Michal despised that posture and missed the point of honour. I want you to prefer David’s spirit to Michal’s — better to be undignified in gratitude than sophisticated in ingratitude.

Pride also suffocates thanksgiving. Some people are unused to receiving help; they struggle to admit need, and so they rarely thank God or men. Others mock prayer and dismiss spiritual things as the refuge of the weak. Do not let their cynicism colonise your soul. Prayer is not weakness; it is dependence rightly expressed. There is no self-made man — only God-made people who acknowledge the Source. Herod received glory as a god and refused to give God the praise; judgment followed (Acts 12:21–23). Pride blocks the flow of grace and blinds a man to mercies received. Gratitude, however, keeps you low before God and warm toward people.

Detox your heart from entitlement and pride. Practise receiving help gratefully. Thank “according to weight” — a text where a text is sufficient, a visit where presence is required, a gift where honour demands it. Return thanks to God promptly and publicly; do not hide His faithfulness. Teach your children the language of honour: to God first, then to men. Correct them gently when entitlement shows and model lavish gratitude yourself. Let your heart say with David, “It was before the LORD,” and let your conduct tell Heaven and earth that every good and perfect gift in your life came from above. Thanksgiving thrives wherever pride dies.

THOUGHT TO PONDER: Where has entitlement crept into my thinking, and what immediate act of honour will uproot it today? In what specific ways will I practice “thanksgiving according to weight” this week?

PRAYER: Lord, uproot pride and entitlement from my heart. Make me quick to acknowledge grace and bold to honour You and people appropriately, in Jesus’ name. Amen.