Offering A Sacrifice of Thanksgiving: Authentic Thanks

Back when sacrifices were a regular part of worship for the Israelites, there was a unique practice called the thanksgiving offering—or the sacrifice of thanksgiving. What made it stand out was that it wasn’t something they had to do. It was voluntary—a heartfelt way to express gratitude to God for His blessings and mercy. Even though it wasn’t mandatory, there were still instructions on how it should be done properly, because God deserves our best.

That really made me pause and think.
Just like the thanksgiving offerings back then, our gratitude today should come willingly, from a genuine place in our hearts. Forced gratitude doesn’t reflect true thankfulness. It’s like when children are taught to say "thank you"—sometimes they mean it, and sometimes, let’s be honest, they’re just saying it because they have to. But as we grow in faith, scripture teaches us to recognize those moments that deserve real, deep thanks.

There was a time in my life when my prayers felt more like checklists than conversations. I was grateful—but I wasn’t offering that gratitude to God with the sincerity or joy He deserves. I was going through the motions, not realizing that true thanksgiving is supposed to be a willing, joyful offering, not an obligation.

Psalm 107:22 says,
"And let them sacrifice the sacrifices of thanksgiving, and declare his works with rejoicing."
It reminds me that my thanks should be a declaration—a joyful, wholehearted proclamation of God’s goodness and faithfulness.

Our sacrifice of thanksgiving shouldn’t be halfhearted or rushed. God, who showers us with His goodness every day, deserves a joyful, pure offering from us. It’s a beautiful thing to stop, reflect, and genuinely thank Him—not just for the big miracles, but for the daily mercies and quiet blessings we sometimes overlook.

Let’s encourage each other to prepare our offerings of thanksgiving carefully and joyfully, not because we feel we "must," but because our hearts are overflowing with love for the One who has provided for every need—material, emotional, and spiritual.

May our thanksgiving always rise up as a pleasing offering to our faithful and gracious God.