Especially on Thanksgiving Day we hear two popular words: thankful and grateful. Are these terms describing the same thing? Although they are similar, there is a distinction in the basis of thankfulness and gratefulness.
Being thankful is an emotional response, defined as a pleased or relieved feeling. Grateful is a decision, not found in the trials of your emotions, but grounded in the foundation of your belief system. Your heart is grateful for what is present in your life.
Praise is an important element in our prayer life and combines the elements of thankfulness and gratefulness. It is appropriate for us to express thanks with a grateful heart toward God with praise. Praise Him for all the prayers He has answered, or you are expecting Him to answer. Thank Him for His guidance, love and mercy. Praise Him for who He is!
Philippians 4:6, New International Version: “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.”
Psalm 100, The Message: “On your feet now—applaud God! Bring a gift of laughter, sing yourselves into his presence. Know this: God is God, and God, God. He made us; we didn’t make him. We’re his people, his well-tended sheep. Enter with the password: “Thank you!” Make yourselves at home, talking praise. Thank him. Worship him. For God is sheer beauty, all-generous in love, loyal always and ever.”
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