What’s Fueling Your Thanks?

“Thanks.” We say it all the time. At a minimum, thanking people is courteous. In its most meaningful form, it expresses deep appreciation toward another person. Thanksgiving is central to what it means to love God and the people He places in our path of life. But what fuels us to say thanks?

Truthfully, it can be driven by habit or something much deeper. As followers of Jesus, members of the body of Christ, and servants in the local church, we have a responsibility to know and express it to one another in all sincerity.

Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever. (Psalm 107:1)

I always thank my God for you because of his grace given you in Christ Jesus.
(1 Corinthians 1:4) 

And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. (Colossians 3:17) 

Finding out what motivates your “thanks” and taking steps to grow your gratitude requires initiative on your part. As we kick off November and prepare to head into the Thanksgiving season with a revitalized sense of gratitude, ask God to show you a fresh perspective on the motives in your heart by reflecting on your current actions.

Let the questions below guide you as you assess how you’re doing inside and out. Then act on His guidance to redirect your interaction with God and others. Doing so can help you speak sincere “thanks” in the most meaningful ways to the people who matter most to you in the days and weeks ahead.

What Fuels Your Thanks? Questions to Reflect On

• Do I notice the contributions of others? How much of my attention is focused on me?
• Am I regularly celebrating God and other people for who they are and what they’ve done?
• Do I set aside resources to give away? How tightly do I hold onto my stuff? Am I consistently generous with what I have in order to acknowledge the investments others make?
• Do I use words and actions thoughtfully? How mindful are my prayers and praises? Am I intentional with what I say and do so people feel significantly appreciated?

After reflecting on the questions in the section above, read Romans 16. Pay close attention to verses 3-15. Did you notice how the Apostle Paul specifically mentions 31 individuals and groups at the end of his letter? He greets them by name because he is deeply grateful for each one.

This month, commit to thanking God for at least one person per day—and thank them directly too! Find personal and meaningful ways to thank your family, friends, colleagues, and ministry volunteers. Surprise them with a note, gift, snack, high five, phone call, day off or whatever says “thanks” to them best.