God Deserves Our Gratitude
We are to be habitually and abundantly thankful people (Col 3:16, Wuest with Col 4:7, PEB). God expects us to be thankful in every circumstance (1 Thess 5:18) because we should be exuding confidence in His love and sovereignty. If we really do believe that He is Lord of lords and that He loves us, how can we fail to be thankful as we expect Him to ever be at work to bring about good for us (Rom 8:28)? There is so very much for which we should be incredibly grateful to God. Each day, the Lord gives us one blessing after another (Jn 1:16, NLT with Lam 3:22-23). Even hardships are for our good (Jas 1:2-4). Ideally, there should only be room for gratitude in our hearts.
So how do we become more grateful? We persistently pray (Col 4:2, AAT); we focus on who He is, what He has done, and what we have in Christ; we realize that our service is spoiled by ingratitude; and we greatly esteem the value of gratitude (Heb 12:28, Weymouth). In addition, we receive His strength (Col 1:11-12, ISV), His renewal (Ps 85:6, Harrison).
Since it is His grace which makes us strong, we become stronger as we learn to receive an increased supply of grace (Ps 116:12-13, CB note). Thus, as we receive more grace, we are strengthened and better able to express gratitude (Heb 12:28, WPNT note). As we use the grace He has given us, to thank Him and joyfully serve Him, He gives us strength to be grateful and obedient in the next part of our journey.
Instead of being timid, learn to be appropriately bold.