“Now thank we all our God, with hearts and hands and voices. Who wondrous things hath done –
In whom His world rejoices…” – written by Martin Rinckart in 1636.
“Among the things you can give and still keep are your word, a smile, and a grateful heart.” – Zig Ziglar
“To speak gratitude is courteous and pleasant, to enact gratitude is generous and noble, but to live gratitude is to touch heaven.” – Johannes Gaertner
“Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” – 1 Thessalonians 5:18 NIV
I remember singing the hymn “Now Thank We All Our God” at several Thanksgiving Day church services through the years. Martin Rinckart’s lyrics speak of a God “who wondrous things hath done”, blessing us on our way through life “with countless gifts of love”. He is a God who deserves our reverence, our gratitude, and our continual thanks for all He is, all He has done, and all He is currently doing in each of our lives. To Him be glory and honor forever!
I realize the hymnist was referring to our indebted and unified worship – thanking God with all that makes up our being – with hearts and hands and voices together. But there is something I saw differently this year as I read this stanza of the hymn – something that personally makes me love God deeper, with even more passion, and with an overwhelming sense of awe.
The God we serve my friends is far less about the jubilant fanfare, the prestigious glory, and the obligatory, dutiful praise He so rightfully deserves. He isn’t arrogant or proud – bigheaded or self-centered. His appeal for us to thank Him isn’t centered on Him. In a love so deep, sincere, and heartfelt – it is centered on us 🙂 It isn’t as much about recognizing His glory as it is about the quality of life we live by focusing on thankfulness – by expressing our gratitude with hearts and hands and voices 🙂
He cares less about the accolades and more about our happiness and wellbeing. THIS IS WHY it is His will for us to be thankful in all circumstances – as the Apostle Paul mentions in the Scripture verse above. Our loving God desires a life that is filled with peace and joyfulness for us – one that can only be experienced in a continual state of gratitude.
Hearts
“A grateful heart is a beginning of greatness.” – James E. Faust
What can you do this Thanksgiving to begin a life of greatness? How can you daily cultivate a heart of gratitude – one that is grateful in all circumstances?
This is a personal commitment of mine this year – to begin and end each day with a record of gratitude – a list of things that I recognize and write down that remind me of God’s active presence in my life. I want to feed my mind and plant seeds of thankfulness in my heart each day by reminding myself of all the things that surround me – placed there with loving intention by a loving God who cares for me. I want to focus LESS on my circumstances and MORE on what I have to be grateful for.
I want to start by identifying 5-10 – even though there are a plethora! By doing so, I can spend more time meditating on each – planting them deep in my heart. At the end of the day, I can review what blessings unfolded – even those in the midst of difficulty, hurt, or struggle.
These seeds of gratitude sown in the heart need to be fed, cultivated, and weeded each day in order to grow. Once the heart is full of gratitude, greatness is around the corner – coming in the form of how we act and what we say.
Hands
“As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them.” – John F. Kennedy
Hands represent “doing” – taking the gratitude in our hearts and manifesting it in the lives of others. What can you begin to do this Thanksgiving that puts your gratitude into action?
When we do this my friends, we become the Hands of God – allowing Him to work through us to impact this world (our world) in a positive fashion. He knows when we allow Him to work through us, we receive more joy and more happiness in our own lives 🙂
Maybe this year, instead of feasting on the turkey, we purchase one and give it to someone who can’t afford one. Maybe you are thankful for the mentorship you received as a child, so in turn you become a mentor at your child’s school. Maybe you have been blessed financially and are able to provide a “helping hand” to someone in need.
What blessings that you are grateful for can be used to the benefit of others? How can you use your time and talents (“Hands”) to reflect your gratitude and demonstrate it tangibly?
Voices
“What you say flows from what is in your heart.” – Luke 6:45
“Train yourself never to put off the word or action for the expression of gratitude.” – Albert Schweitzer
“Feeling gratitude and not expressing it is like wrapping a present and not giving it.” – William Arthur Ward
I believe when it comes to the things that move us, change us, and motivate us to be the best we can be – the spoken word exerts the greatest power of them all! When someone says, “Thank you!” or “The things you have done for me have changed me in ways you can’t imagine” or “I love you so much and I am so grateful you are a part of my life”…. These words have the power to change lives – and to change us in the process!
The Bible says kind words are “sweet to the soul and healing to the bones”. (Proverbs 16:24)
This Thanksgiving, how will you use your voice to express your thankfulness and gratitude? Will you commit to making your voice heard not only that day, but continually in a way that conveys your love and gratitude to others? Can you see the difference it will make – in the people you love and in your own heart?
There is a tremendous vulnerability when we open our hearts and speak words of meaningful love and gratitude toward others, but when we do; we transform lives in ways we don’t imagine. 🙂
I hope this Thanksgiving, you give God the glory and thanks He so readily deserves, but I hope you do it seeing Him in a new and different light. Like me, recognize that a grateful heart is something He sees as valuable TO US! To Him, it’s less about His praises and more about our peace 🙂 He loves us THAT MUCH!
I pray you think hard about gratitude in regard to “hearts and hands and voices” and how that applies to feeling, doing, and expressing thankfulness in your life in new ways this coming year.
I am so thankful for all of you – for your kindness and acceptance of my expression through writing. God bless you all this holiday season and in the New Year that is fast approaching!
Oh, may this bounteous God
Through all our life be near us,
With ever joyful hearts
And blessed peace to cheer us;
And keep us in His grace
And guide us when perplexed
And free us from all ills
In this world and the next.
(Stanza of “Now Thank We All Our God” by Martin Rinckart)
