“Know that the LORD is God… Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name.”  Psalm 100:3, 4

“Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”  1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

Giving thanks to God is confessing that that for which thanks is given is a gift, a blessing not earned or necessarily deserved.

Giving thanks to God is confessing the need for his grace.

Giving thanks to God is confessing trust in God and dependence upon him.

Giving thanks is recognizing God as Creator and oneself as creature.

Giving thanks is confessing God as Redeemer and oneself as redeemed.

Giving thanks is confessing God as Savior and oneself as the saved.

The saved, I was lost and needed God to find me. I was floundering in the mire of sin needing to be rescued. In the person of his Son, Jesus Christ, in the flesh and on the cross, God came searching for me. He cried out with the message of Christ. I answered. He found me. God reached out his hand and strongly took hold of my hand as I weakly reached  up. God pulled me out of the mire.

Giving thanks is humbly and obediently living life to the praise of His name.

“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