As we approach our Christmas holiday celebration, I’m led to continue on the topic of Thanksgiving, which we began in our November Christian Soldier. Thousands of years ago, the psalmist wrote Psalms 107, inspired by the Holy Spirit. 

It’s a dedicated declaration of thanksgiving – an attitude that, for the most part, is non-existent in the hearts and lives of millions of people, including many Christians.

Verse 2 from Psalms 107 is one that most charismatic and Pentecostal Christians know, quote and declare often. 

No doubt, it’s a powerful truth we need to cherish and live by. But many fail to understand it is a wonderful Christmas declaration as well. 

We need to realize how this deliverance from the hand of the enemy is a tailor-made-for-Christmas salutation as well! After all, this is the reason for why Jesus was born in the manger in the first place. He came to save us and redeem us – an event declared by God Himself thousands of years before, moments after the fall of Adam and Eve (Genesis 3:15). Yet, this isn’t a verse that’s usually connected to the Christmas season – but it should be. 

When we walk around saying “Merry Christmas”, we don’t think to follow the instructions in this verse, but we need to because it’s what Christmas is all about. 

Yes, we should be saying ”Merry Christmas”, but with that greeting we should also be declaring our redemption from the penalty for our sins – which is physical death followed by eternal death (Romans 6:23). That’s why this theme of thankfulness is repeated throughout Psalms 107.

In verse 1: Oh, give thanks to the Lord, for He is good! For His mercy endures forever. In verse 8: Oh, that men would give thanks to the Lord for His goodness, and for His wonderful works to the children of men! In verse 15: Oh, that men would give thanks to the Lord for His goodness, and for His wonderful works to the children of men!  In verse 21: Oh, that men would give thanks to the Lord for His goodness, and for His wonderful works to the children of men! In verse 31: Oh, that men would give thanks to the Lord for His goodness, and for His wonderful works to the children of men!   

Do you think the Holy Spirit is trying to get something over to us here? I think so! Anytime God repeats Himself five times in one Psalm, its rather obvious He thinks the point should be well taken! 

Our lives need to be in a continuous “thanksgiving mode”, and especially at Christmas time.

This is one of the main reasons why David was called a man after God’s heart. At midnight, I will rise to give thanks to You, because of Your righteous judgments. Psalms 119:62. 

When we go to bed, how many of us set the alarm for midnight, just so we can hop out of bed and spend time thanking God for his mercy that endures forever, and for His wonderful works to the children of men? Not many, if any. Of course, there are always plenty of excuses for a lack of thankfulness, but none will hold any water with God. 

In fact, when things aren’t going well and everything is falling apart, that’s the best time to offer up thanksgiving by faith. 

Notice in our opening passage, I quoted two verses from Psalms 107. Verse 21 declares the importance of giving thanks to the Lord, as do four other verses in the same Psalm. But verse 22 is not to be overlooked. It talks about the sacrifice of thanksgiving. What does that mean? It means the same thing as Hebrews 13:15: Therefore by Him let us continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name. There are plenty of times in our lives when we don’t feel like praising or expressing thankfulness to God. But that’s a part of what it means to walk by faith and not by sight (2 Corinthians 5:7).  

The Bible talks about “lifting up holy hands in prayer (1 Timothy 2:8). That’s when we do it because it’s the right thing to do, no matter how we may feel at the moment. 

At all times, God is worthy of our praise, and He’s worthy of our thankfulness, especially at Christmas time.

And when they had laid many stripes on them, they threw them into prison, commanding the jailer to keep them securely.  Having received such a charge, he put them into the inner prison and fastened their feet in the stocks. But at midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them.  Acts 16:23-25

What a great example of offering the sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving! Paul and Silas had many stripes laid upon their backs. 

That’s the same type of torture they used on Jesus during His crucifixion ordeal. 

Afterwards, they had no medical treatment for their wounds. No bandages. No pain pills. No morphine. Nothing. After they were whipped extensively, they were thrown into a pitch dark jail cell in the inner depths of that prison. They couldn’t move because their feet were secured in the stocks. There were probably rats, crawling insects, mosquitos, standing water on the floor, and whatever else in there to torment them in the dark. 

If these two men can sing, praise and offer thanks to God in the situation they were in, you and I have no excuse not to do the same whenever and wherever! 

Notice what happened when they did what they did. God sent an earthquake that shook the jail’s foundation – and that building’s foundation only. The earthquake opened all the jail cell doors, not just the one that Paul and Silas were in. 

Every prisoner in the prison had chains fall off from their hands and feet, and they were free to escape. Also notice the prisoners were listening. 

That means Paul and Silas were not ashamed to praise and thank the Lord loudly in the midst of their trial. And when all the doors were opened and all the chains fell off, not only did Paul and Silas remain in their cell, but so did all the other prisoners! 

They didn’t run away! They were so enamored with the loud singing and praising from these two men, they just wanted to stay and hear some more. 

Amazing! The jailor and all his family got saved, and God only knows how many of the prisoners got saved as well. We’ll meet them in heaven someday soon, and they can give us a head count! 

This is what sacrificial thankfulness and praise can do!    

We are to declare God’s greatness, glory, victory and majesty.  He’s exalted over everything, and rules and reigns uncontested. He is our source for all prosperity and honor. He imparts His power, might and strength to all of us.  THEREFORE, we do two things. 

We thank Him and we praise Him.  How often?  All the time.  Consistently.  Faithfully.  Without hesitation.  Without apology.  No matter what is going on in our lives that seek to discourage us from doing these things – we do them anyway. 

As we celebrate Christmas this year, let’s be sure our hearts are filled with nothing but thankfulness and praise.  God deserves nothing less.