It is a privilege to speak about gratitude as a way of Christian living in the tradition of God’s children. For this reason, God brings us together for a purpose. First and foremost, we must recall that in life, there are good things to acquire, develop, and instill (learn). This leads us to ask the question: when can we say that a child is well-educated? It is a child of good manners, and what suggests this? It is when they say thank you, know how to greet others, and use expressions like please.

Indeed, there are things expressed through attitudes that qualify us as having good manners and culture. Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me.” You take your children to a restaurant, and they want something, but they don’t even have the nature of gratitude to say thank you.

When we do something for people, when someone does something, at least say thank you to establish a good relationship and teach us how to live. It is a way of life.

Gratitude prompts us to answer the question of what gratitude is, how to express our gratitude, why express gratitude, and finally, the consequences of gratitude. Human nature also expects gratitude. When someone says thank you, it is an exception.

Consideration of the term gratitude

Christian life is not a solo life but a different relationship from a religion. It is also living in harmonious relationship with God. Every good relationship is animated by good practices and manners, especially good manners are very important.

Lack of good manners can frustrate the good relationship with God and people. The Bible also teaches us good manners and practices in our relationship with God. In doing so, it is necessary to recall that gratitude or thanksgiving is part of good manners or the practice of living well in community. Gratitude is a lifestyle and must be lived. It is not a theory but a way of life.

In 1 Thessalonians 5:18, this passage reminds us that God’s will begins with giving thanks to God. It is also knowing how to say thank you to those who have done good to you. And this becomes a norm.

We often find it difficult to say it in our way of doing things. However, it is necessary to observe that a woman can see while sitting what a man cannot see standing. We must learn to thank this woman that God has given us. Thanksgiving is also an expression of our faith because God is capable of doing everything for us. Our gratitude is based on what God is capable of doing, on what we know about him.

Psalm 103 reminds us that we must be grateful for what God does for us, and He is the one who forgives all our iniquities. For the greatest obstacle of man is sin.

In Isaiah 59:1, sins have raised a barrier of separation. It starts with the greatest obstacle, which is to deliver us from sin, even prostitution without money; it is a reason to give thanks to God.

The starting point, God forgives all sins and crowns me with grace and mercy. He rejuvenates me. He who is liberated from sin is liberated from everything. This crown of grace and mercy gives us access to wonderful things and gives us places and positions that only the crowned ones access. Agreeing on thanksgiving “Matondo” is also a way of operating in the supernatural.

God wants us to change our mindsets by knowing how to say thank you and relying on God’s intelligence. Psalm 145 tells us about a reliable and trustworthy God. Psalm 147 adds that God is also reliable and can be counted on.

Gratitude is also knowing how to say thank you to God because He is the most intelligent to get us out of the situation we find ourselves in. It is also a sign of humility because every good thing comes from God. If we are someone, it is thanks to Him. When we do not know how to thank God, we are proud. For this, we can only rely on the word of God. Let’s read in Deuteronomy 6:10-12 and in 2 Timothy 3:16.

When things happen in your life, tell yourself that it is God who gave it to you and be prompt and ready to say thank you to God, “Matondo.” In Deuteronomy 9, we see how God brought the children of Israel out of Egypt. God becomes visible as an eye. But the impatient people of Israel murmur and even go so far as to make a golden calf.

Because of their impatience, they plunge into ingratitude to cancel everything. But thanks to the intercession of Moses, God listened to them. It is important to note that the sin of idolatry is ingratitude. God is very frustrated with His people who worship a golden calf despite the blessings they have received.

Colossians 3:20-23 and 1 Thessalonians 5:5, talk about giving thanks to God in all things. Here, gratitude is associated with the will of God. Philippians 4:4-6, when you are in a situation that hurts you, God knows that you hope, but He says when you pray and supplicate, say thank you, God has not finished with miracles. Always end by saying thank you.

Without faith, it is impossible to please Him. Hebrews 11:6

In John 5, we learn that everything God has done helps us to do something, to glorify Him and show us how to do it. Impossibility leads to the possibility of saying thank you because the miracle is triggered. Thanksgiving in faith changes the game. Do not end the prayer without thanksgiving.

This text is an excerpt from the book “MATONDO: Living through Thanksgiving” written by Authors Arlette Manegabe, Athom’s Mbuma, David Kajisu, Fifi Bilolo Tunasi, Grâce Tshiashala, Michael Tettey, Pasteur Lévi Kongolo Kazadi, Sissi Bogoli, Tracien Boma.