Have you ever spent time reading some of the reviews on Amazon? They can be really helpful when you’re trying to make a decision on which product to buy. You can take your time and read the experiences of others, which helps you make an informed decisions when buying products.
Leaving reviews on Amazon can teach us some things about thankfulness.
Give thanks to the LORD and proclaim his greatness. Let the whole world know what he has done. – 1 Chronicles 16:8
Give thanks
The first part of this verse talks about giving thanks to the Lord. But what does giving thanks to God really look like?
Giving thanks is something that requires expression. If you don’t express your thanks in some way, the person you’re thanking will never know that you’re thankful. So, if you’re thankful to God, you’ve got to express it. You could journal your thankfulness, you could write a song, or even just express those thoughts in prayer. It doesn’t matter how your thankfulness is expressed, just that you do let God know that you’re thankful for all He has done in your life.
Benefits of thankfulness
Being thankful has some benefits. The first one is that thankfulness helps others. If we look at the example of Amazon reviews, when you leave a review, it helps others. It helps people know if they want to buy the product, or if the product is good. When you express your thankfulness for a product or for something that God has done, it helps others.
Being thankful also helps you. Whether you know it or not, being thankful is good for you. If you’re upset or feeling depressed, one of the best ways to help yourself out is to be thankful. You can start thanking God for all the good things in your life. As you do, you suddenly realize that you’re not as sad or upset anymore. Being thankful helps you!
Let others know what God has done
If you were to find a great deal at a new store, or listen to a great new song, you’d tell people about it. When you experience something good, you tell others about it. If you bought a great product online, you’d give it 5 stars, or write a great review. We are wired to share good news with others.
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The problem is, many times we forget to share the good things God is doing in our lives with others. We know that God is good and has done great things in our lives, but often, we don’t share Him with others. We don’t take the time to tell people how God has changed our lives.
Challenge yourself to not become unthankful. Decide to express your thanks to God and to others this week. Choose to give thanks and see how great it is!
If you’re a youth leader and you’re looking for resources to share with your youth group, check out our lesson outline and powerpoint available for free based on this devotion!
