Hello precious ladies all over Western Europe. I am Janice Park from Ireland and I’d just like to share with you this month an encouraging word on thanksgiving.

Luke 17:11-19 tells us about Jesus healing the ten lepers, and it tells us that only one of them was really grateful and came back so thankful and bowed down before Jesus in thankfulness. What about the other nine?
I can think of nine reasons why each of those nine lepers could have given thanks to God. I will share with you very briefly nine important things to remember about thanksgiving, and if we apply these in our lives, we are going to be blessed and we’re going to see God move in our lives. Let’s look at them.

Nine reasons to give thanks to God.
Thanksgiving expresses our gratitude and our appreciation. You see, we have to choose to thank. It is good manners, isn’t it. When you were children, I’m sure your mother said, “What do you say? You need to say thank you.” She reminded us of the good manners of giving thanks. You see, thanksgiving acknowledges that something has been done. It’s an expression of gratitude. It shows that we’re grateful for what has been done, or for what we have received.

Thanksgiving is praise. Col. 3:16 & 17 says, “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God.” We praise at all times. We praise in everything that we do. You see, praise is a continual overflow of gratitude and thanksgiving.

Thanksgiving is prayer. Yes, it is prayer. Col. 4:2 says, “Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful. It is a very important part of prayer.

Thanksgiving is God’s will. 1 Thess. 5:16 & 17 says, “Be joyful always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.

Thanksgiving brings release – a release of appreciation and a release of joy. You see, something changes when we give thanks. Something is released. Thanksgiving releases appreciation, and appreciation triggers joy. When somebody appreciates us, it makes us feel good, doesn’t it. It makes us feel loved and appreciated and not taken for granted. Joy is contagious. Joy brings strength. Nehemiah 8:10 says, “The joy of the Lord is my strength.” So, when we appreciate one another, we are releasing joy. We are helping each other to be strong. When we appreciate God, we are releasing joy within, and we will gain our strength. Maybe you’re feeling weak. Maybe you’re feeling defeated. Maybe you’re feeling weary today. Then release thanksgiving to God and you will find your victory and you will find your strength.

Thanksgiving releases blessing. We hear that saying – “It is more blessed to give than to receive.” Well, I have to say, there is much blessing in receiving as well. We love to receive, don’t we. We love to receive gifts. We love financial blessings. But to give, releases more blessing. You see, blessing triggers blessing. We are blessed to be a blessing. We get blessed, and in turn, we release blessing. Thanksgiving acknowledges the blessing that we have received, and in turn, releases more blessing. Psalm 103:1 & 2 says, “Bless the Lord, (praise, give thanks to the Lord) Oh my soul, and all that is within me, bless His holy name. Forget not all His benefits.” “He has done great things.” The nine lepers forgot to thank Jesus. They forfeited extra blessing on their lives. You see, Jesus said to the leper that did return and give thanks, “Rise and go! Your faith has made you well.” He spoke blessing and wholeness over the leper. The leper received extra blessing. The leper wasn’t just healed physically, but healed body, mind and spirit.

Thanksgiving releases anointing. Psalm 100:4 says, “Enter His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise. Give thanks to Him and bless His name.” Thanksgiving is the doorway, or the gateway, the entrance pass into the holy of holies, that place of the anointed presence of God, where God dwells, and we’re reminded in the Old Testament that only the priest could ever go into that holy of holies, and even then, it was only once a year. So, this is a great privilege that we have, that we can enter right in to the holy of holies through the redemptive work that Jesus did on the cross. Hebrews 10:19 says, “Since we have confidence to enter the most holy place, by the blood of Jesus, and by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is His body, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith.” You know, that brings a whole new meaning to Psalm 100:4, saying “I will enter His gates with thanksgiving in my heart, and I will enter His courts with praise.” God dwells within us, so as we enter His gates with thanksgiving, the thanksgiving releases the anointing that is within us. It releases that anointing, causing it to rise from within us.

Thanksgiving precedes the blessing, anointing and favour of God over our lives. It brings us into that place where we not only have the anointing and the presence of God, but we are able to release that anointing and to impact the lives of others.

Thanksgiving releases fruitfulness. Genesis 1:28 says, “Be fruitful and multiply.” Do you want to be a multiplier in God’s kingdom? I know I do. Well, if you do, then give thanks. You see, complaining takes away. Complaining subtracts. It robs us of blessing. It destroys the anointing. But when we turn our complaining into thanksgiving, we turn the situation around. Yes, the situation may seem unfair. It may warrant our complaints and our discontent or our disappointments, but don’t rob yourself of blessing. Turn the complaining into praise and into thanksgiving, and you will receive blessing, favour, and anointing, not only over your life, but over the situation, and the situation will change. So, let’s be a multiplier in God’s kingdom, with our thanksgiving.

My Prayer for you
Father, I thank You for every woman listening to this message, that as they choose to give thanks to You, that You will release and multiply blessing, favour and anointing upon their lives, and that they will continue to multiply and to increase the harvest of Your kingdom by all their words and all their actions. I thank you now Lord for a release of thanksgiving over all Your women in Western Europe. In Jesus name, Amen.
May God bless you richly.