Post # 12
I think many people aren’t exactly sure what they mean themselves, let alone what others mean by the words. But to me thankfulness is about acknowledging my dependency on my creator, both for myself and for the world around me. We, as individuals and as a human race, can very easily start to think that we are so “clever” that we can do almost anything. We can get so arrogant, so self-congratulatory, so pumped up with our own self importance. And on the other side of the coin that same over-confidence in ourselves raises our expectations of ourselves and each other to such an unrealistic level that when things go wrong we become disillusioned, depressed and despairing.To me the way to avoid either extreme lies in the recognition that we are God’s creation, and being thankful for that creation … and a realisation that he loves us enough not to force us to follow him, but instead allows us freedom to live our lives according to the choices we make.
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Praise is something that to me is very different. That is more an acknowledgment of God’s supremacy and power, and the awe that inspires. For me it’s about admitting that I cannot possibly know or understand the full nature of God, but rejoicing in what I do know and offering myself to him in faith and trust. In terms of healing I think they both play a part. As Mymoss says, I don’t think praise has much to do with getting God to intervene… but in an attitude of praise we sometimes find it easier to hand things over to God which can allow him to start healing things within us such as anxiety, grief, guilt, despair. And also as Mymoss says, an attitude of thanksgiving is beneficial in that it makes us turn to God in recognition of our dependency, which also opens up the gates for his healing love to help us in so many ways.
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Mymoss says – Thank you Jools for making clear the difference between giving praise and giving thanks and showing how both are necessary in our relationship with God.
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I believe that is true. I don”t think God needs our praise, because his sense of self esteem is perfectly secure. Also I don’t think there is anything we can do to get God to intervene, other than to pray our most fervent prayers. On the other hand we need to have an attitude of thanksgiving at all times, because it is for our own benefit. I’m sure you are aware of how David gave thanks in good times and bad in the psalms. God is a Father and wants us to talk to him, even if we are so upset that all we can do is complain. Once the rant is over, I can usually find something to be thankful for, such as being born as a human rather than a fly or something. Then I might remember the promise of eternal life that he gave me by his grace through the faith he also gave me.
When it comes to personal circumstances involving other people, we can’t always expect God to change the people or the circumstances, but I have found he is more inclined to help us cope by inspiring a new tack to take – with a different attitude and with more outgoing concern for others.
Posed by a St.Pixel member; “Perhaps I was getting thankfulness and praise mixed up…but then again, they are part of the same thing to me!”
Comment on above by St.Pixels member Jools.