Four Levels of Thanksgiving

By Sister Tarpley

There is turmoil in America today, people marching in the streets over the November elections, disasters (hurricanes, terrorism, mudslides, earthquakes, wars world-wide, life’s uncertainty, etc.) many people are in a state of despair.

November is set aside for our Nation’s Thanksgiving Day.  The Scriptures says,

“If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.  2 Chronicles 7:14.

It has been stated that there four levels of thanksgiving:  Grammar School, Thanks to God for what He gives us.   High School Level, Thanks to God for what He does through us.   College Level,  Thanks to God for what He has done for and in us.

The Fourth Level of Thanksgiving is the Graduate Level.  The highest level is when we give 4) Thanksgiving to God for what He is to us.

When you reach this level, you are a “Born Again Christian.”  You know that you are saved by HIS grace.

You must first ask, “What is God to me?”  Serle, an author, over 100 years ago wrote over 600 pages that deal with 41 names of our Lord that is in the Bible.

Later author Charles J. Rhoades wrote 84 names of our Lord in the scriptures.  Each of these writers gave us an idea of what God is.  I am going to talk about six names that can be found in the Bible.

The Lord is my inheritance (Psalms 16:5.)  He is my wealth, my source, my bank, my reservoir, my supplier.  David, the King, who was wealthy in his own right, said that he would by-pass all of his earthly wealth for Christ because God was his source.

The Lord is my shield (Psalms 28:7.)  He is a protector, a safety net.  David, a warrior, said that God was his strength and shield; he knew the value of a shield.

In David’s day there was an arm shield and a body shield, both for protection.  Life is a battle ground.  But in the end time, it will be God’s, He is a protector.

The Lord is the health of my countenance (Psalms 43:5.)  He is my make-up artist, meaning, what I am.  I have peace with God which results in the peace of God within me which results in the glory of God on my face.

And, a God’s satisfied face means there’s something on the inside that is affecting my outside.  It’s good to know that God’s peace is reserved power.

The Lord is my helper (Psalms 54:4.)   He gives me His promise, His love, His power, His presence; He is with me all of the time, and has delivered me out of all trouble.

The Lord is my refuge and fortress (Psalms 91:2-4.)  Moses declared that from generation to generation that God has always been, is now, and will always be God to His people.

Refuge implies deliverance, read and study (Exodus 6:6 and 19:4.)  He will bring you out, bring you up, and will bring you in.

God will deliver you from an environment, from bondage, from a strong enemy, fear, lust, danger, or whatever has you bound (Psalms 18:16-19.)  He has the power.  Faith in God is the price you have to pay for His blessings.  (Psalms 18:20 – 22.)

The Lord is my strength (Isaiah 40:29.)  When I need God, He is there for me   (Deuteronomy 32:12-14.)

The four levels of Thanksgiving brings my favorite scripture to mind: “Now unto Him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the powers that worketh in us, Unto Him be glory . . .”  (Ephesians 3:20-21.)