Genesis 8verse18-21 ‘V18-And Noah went forth, and his sons, and his wife, and his sons’ wives with him: V19-Every beast, every creeping thing, and every fowl, and whatsoever creepeth upon the earth, after their kinds, went forth out of the ark. V20-And Noah builded an altar unto the LORD; and took of every clean beast, and of every clean fowl, and offered burnt offerings on the altar. V21-And the LORD smelled a sweet savour; and the LORD said in his heart, I will not again curse the ground any more for man’s sake; for the imagination of man’s heart is evil from his youth; neither will I again smite any more everything living, as I have done.’
Do you know that your thanksgiving can either be impactful or not impactful? So are you making an impact via your thanksgiving or not? It’s possible to make an impact through your thanksgiving, as we can see from the testimony of Noah in our text scripture (Genesis 8verse18-21); after being inside the ark for over one year, he rendered an impactful thanksgiving unto God. Another classic example is when David was bringing the ark into the place they had prepared for it (2Sam6verse14). You can see from his response that his thanksgiving was impactful. It’s not just enough to render thanks but to render impactful thanksgiving. So what is the concept of impactful thanksgiving all about? It is simply thanksgiving that has an effect or strikes an impression. It is a thanksgiving that makes a difference and can’t be easily forgotten. This is the kind of thanksgiving that God wants you to render unto him.
So my dear brothers and sisters, how can you know that your thanksgiving is making an impact? There are some parameters or signs to look out for and I like to share some of them with you right away.
1. It makes an impression on God or strikes a cord in God’s heart. This is how you know a thanksgiving that is impactful. So when you praise God, is God moved or not? I am sure you are wondering how this can be possible. Yes it is possible. Take, for example, the sacrifice of thanksgiving that Noah offered unto the Lord after he came out of the ark. The scriptures say it was pleasing unto God. In fact, God smelled it and loved the smell of the sacrifice of thanksgiving. This simply means that God was moved by Noah’s thanksgiving. No wonder he pronounced a blessing. Gen8v21. In the same vein, may your thanksgiving begin to command the attention of heaven henceforth, in Jesus name, amen.
2. It makes a visible impression on other people. In other words, it provokes others to do good works or to take action. Is your thanksgiving worthy of emulation? Can people copy or follow your example in praise? If the answer is a yes, then It means your thanksgiving is impactful but if the reverse is the case, then it means that you need to raise the bar concerning your thanksgiving. Are you ready to make that move today? I pray that today will usher you into a new season of praise and appreciation in Jesus name, amen. Gen4v4-5
Other Scriptural References: 1Ki8v63; Acts16v25-26; Pro16v7; Mk12v41-44
Prayer for Today: Holy Spirit, take my thanksgiving unto another dimension from today in Jesus name, amen.
CONFESSION: I tap into the dimension of impactful thanksgiving from today! I cease to offer praise to God from the ordinary but I chose from today to render quality praise. The type that provokes the attention of heaven and men in Jesus name, amen.
Yemi Adeoti is a pastor, teacher, life coach and mentor & also a prolific writer.
Amen