Total Agreement

“O give thanks unto the Lord; for he is good:

because his mercy endures forever.”  (Psalm 118: 1 – KJV)

It is interesting to note that the Greek Old Testament translates the Hebrew word for “thanksgiving” as “acknowledgement.”  This definition adds another whole level to the giving of thanks.  Instead of limiting the term to a form of verbal gratitude to God, it expands our heartfelt appreciation for all that God has, is and will do for us, into the arena of profession, confession and total agreement with His word.  Thayer’s Greek Definitions states that to acknowledge means “To profess that one will do something, to promise, agree, engage.  To confess.”  James Strong simply defines it as to “Agree fully.”

Now think about that for a moment.  When we give thanksgiving to God we are actually professing our faith in Him and confessing our total agreement with His word!  Now I can really understand why extended thanksgiving and praise brings us directly into the presence of our loving heavenly Father!  That’s exactly what happened when the people of Israel, along with the priests, the Levitical singers and the musicians gave thanks unto the Lord by professing that: “He is good; His mercy endures forever” (I Chronicles 5:13 Gods Word ©) as the Ark of the Covenant was brought into Solomon’s newly constructed temple.  The story continues by explaining how the cloud of the Lord’s presence filled the temple so as the priests could not continue with their work!  

(See 2 Chronicles chapters 5 – 7)

Wow!  I encourage you to think about that added dimension when you go to speak out a word of thanks to God.  Embrace the entire circumference of the action that you are about to partake of.  Allow yourself to go beyond a simply word of thanksgiving and let your profession ring with the confession of your total agreement and yielding to the truth of His word and the power that only He can bring into your life!  Then go out and make a difference in your world.

Have a SUPER weekend as you yield to Him and allow yourself to become a conduit of His mercy (or better yet of His compassion) to those who are fortunate enough to come into your presence!  Stay tuned and keep asking yourself… “What am I expecting today?”