Protocols, Postures and Power of ThanksgivingНамуна

WHO MUST RETURN WITH THANKS

There are two broad fronts for thanksgiving — spiritual and physical — and God has been faithful across both. Some of you have known the valley of the shadow of death; others have tasted God’s power in business, career, or family. Whether you are thanking Him for a spiritual deliverance or a tangible provision, I want you to recognise clearly what God has done. Thanksgiving begins with recognition. The ten lepers were cleansed, but only one returned because only one perceived the weight of what had happened (Luke 17:12–19). Do not call a miracle “normal.” Identify the act, feel its impact, and let your response match its weight. The psalmist said, “What shall I render unto the LORD for all his benefits toward me? … I will pay my vows unto the LORD” (Psalm 116:12–14, KJV).

Different people should come before the Lord to give thanks. There are those who received “dangerous” testimonies — escapes that scare you when you revisit the details. Had God not shown up, the story would be different. There are those who made vows and have seen God answer; return now and fulfil your vows with a fitting act of thanksgiving. There are those from whom God removed reproach — a long-standing problem lifted, as with the lepers whose isolation ended in a moment of mercy. There are those to whom God added what was not there before — new doors, fresh graces, restored dignity, spiritual gifts, or physical provisions. Whichever describes you, do not be casual. Thanksgiving is not a courtesy call; it is a covenant response to covenant mercy.

Practically, come deliberately. Write why you are thanking Him. Bring words that name it; bring a gift that honours it; bring a posture that fits it. If God lifted a lifelong shame, let your response carry weight — testify publicly, set up a memorial seed, or schedule a family altar of gratitude. If He fulfilled a vow-related request, pay the vow promptly and joyfully. If He added a new grace or provision, dedicate it to Him and acknowledge the channels He used, while honouring God as the Source. Express thanks in forms that touch you — so they will touch Heaven. I want you to return like the one leper: quickly, precisely, and wholeheartedly, so that what began by faith is completed by thanksgiving.

THOUGHT TO PONDER: Which of these categories describes me most clearly today, and what exact act of thanks will I offer? How will I ensure my vow, testimony, and gift accurately reflect the weight of God’s mercy?

PRAYER: Father, thank You for mercies I could never earn. Help me recognise what You removed, fulfilled, and added to my life, and to return with fitting words, vows, and gifts, in Jesus’ name. Amen.