I started counting gifts of thanksgiving a little while back. As the numbers grow, I’m learning to give thanks for all things, great and small. There’s another thing I’m learning about the heart of thanksgiving.

It isn’t always easy. In fact, sometimes it seems nearly impossible to give thanks in all things.

{Psalm 107: 22, Amplified version}

“And let them sacrifice the sacrifices of thanksgiving and rehearse His deeds with shouts of joy and singing!”

This single scripture sums it up for us. Thanksgiving is not built on happiness. It isn’t relegated by abundance or poverty.

Ready for this?

Thanksgiving is a sacrifice.

We must willingly give thanks, regardless of the circumstance.

We must give (even though it hurts) to receive.

Is there any greater offering, than the sacrifice of thanksgiving?

Practice is the answer.

The Amplified version of this scripture breaks this down to a level where I can chew on it and really “get” it. Maybe it’s just me, but when I read this scripture, my initial thoughts were something like this:

How do I give thanks in the midst of suffering?

Why does God expect me to offer a sacrifice of thanksgiving?

I don’t know how to be thankful when I’m upset…lonely…angry…confused…!

Have you ever wondered this, too? Sure you have; we all have these kinds of questions at some point.

If our instruction {sacrifice the sacrifices of thanksgiving} is given in the first half of this verse, then the how-to mini-manual comes from the second half:

“…rehearse His deeds with shouts of joy and singing!”

Rehearse.

We must practice.

When actors prepare for opening night, they don’t sit around partying, chatting, and having a good time. No. They practice. And practice. And practice. They rehearse. Rehearse more. Rehearse again.

Learn lines. Practice. Memorize words. Tackle the nerves.

Until you get it right.

Practice does not make perfect. Practice makes experience. And experience brings understanding.

So if thanksgiving is a sacrifice, and if we are required to sacrifice this sacrifice, then how? If we are to practice by rehearsing His deeds with joy and singing, what might that look like?

Here are some things to consider:

• Like thanksgiving, joy is not dependent on circumstance.
• You confuse the devil when you shout with joy and offer praise, especially in the darkest of hours.
• Sometimes we need to give thanks in order to remember what He has already done for us.
• Sometimes we need to give thanks simply for who He is; remembering the awesomeness of who He is.

Word applications:

• Therefore with joy will you draw water from the wells of salvation. {Isaiah 12:3}
• Always be joyful. Never stop praying. Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus. {1 Thes. 5:16-18}
• Remember his marvelous works that he hath done; his wonders, and the judgments of his mouth; {Psalm 105:5}

{Psalm 18:31-42}

Is there any god like God?
Are we not at bedrock?
Is not this the God who armed me,
then aimed me in the right direction?
Now I run like a deer;
I’m king of the mountain.
He shows me how to fight;
I can bend a bronze bow!
You protect me with salvation-armor;
you hold me up with a firm hand,
caress me with your gentle ways.
You cleared the ground under me
so my footing was firm.
When I chased my enemies I caught them;
I didn’t let go till they were dead men.
I nailed them; they were down for good;
then I walked all over them.
You armed me well for this fight,
you smashed the upstarts.
You made my enemies turn tail,
and I wiped out the haters.
They cried “uncle”
but Uncle didn’t come;
They yelled for God
and got no for an answer.
I ground them to dust; they gusted in the wind.
I threw them out, like garbage in the gutter.