The Power of a Thank You

I remember growing up how my parents taught me proper etiquette when in public. They taught me to say, “yes, ma’am” and “yes, sir.” They told me to always use “please” and “thank you.” These lessons have been embedded into my soul because when I didn’t use these phrases, I heard about it. But this was good for me and what’s funny, I’m doing the same thing with my kids now. I can see more than ever the necessity of looking people in the eye, giving a good handshake and saying please and thank you.

There’s something about these habits that speak respect and integrity. It shapes a person with confidence and strength as we do life with others.

This principle is the same with Jesus!

Giving Him thanks, saying please and thank you are powerful ways for a healthy posture with God. In fact, the power of a thank you goes far beyond what we see or feel when we say it. This simple phrase releases powerful things as it often reflects our attitude and perspective.

For example in Luke 17:11-19, there’s a story about ten lepers and how they came to Jesus for their healing. In those days leprosy was a death sentence and because of that, all lepers were quarantined into colonies to wither away. So not only was this disease a death sentence, but it also was an isolated life style and existence. This was of course devastating to anyone in this condition and yet, these ten men were desperate for their healing.

When they found Jesus, they cried out and all of them were healed in that moment. However, only one came back and said thank you. Notice what it says happened to him.

“One of them, when he saw he was healed, came back, praising God in a loud voice. He threw himself at Jesus’ feet and thanked Him – and he was a Samaritan. Then He said to him, ‘Rise and go; your faith has made you well.”

Luke 17:15-16, 19

The interesting part to this is in verse 19. Jesus has already healed him of leprosy but He said, “your faith has made you well.” What this means in the text is, any missing parts of his body (leprosy would eat away the flesh on the body), any lingering damage done from the disease was completely restored and healed. The other nine men were cleansed of leprosy but only one was cleansed and totally restored. Therefore, in this miracle we see, the power of a thank you!

Jesus is awesome and when we say thank you for what He’s done, something happens beyond what we know or see.

I believe a thank you marks humility and the acknowledgment of what just happened. It implies a love for Jesus more than a love for what He can do. It says, I want to be with you and linger awhile. It speaks of gratitude, thanksgiving and love, which attracts the full miracles of Jesus in our lives.

Did you know it’s possible to be cleansed of our issues but not have His full restoration in our lives? This was true in this story and it’s true now! I don’t know about you, but I want all that God has for me. I’m not satisfied with only His blessings, I want Him. I want who He is in my life and because of that, I want to say thank you every day I got, since it all comes from Him.

Do you feel the same?

I encourage you right now, to live a life of saying thank you to God and those who have blessed you along the way. The power of a thank you is real and and it opens up doors of favor that no one can do on their own. Just think of how this one man felt after his full cleansing and restoration. His life was transformed and it happened because he said thank you!

What can you thank God for today?

Make a list and do this daily and watch your posture and heart be lifted closer to Him. Like the old saying says, “He’s done so much for me, I cannot tell it all.” How true this is!

So today, slow down and take a moment or two to think about just a few things Jesus has done in your life. Then, lift up a thank you and give Him your heart. Something good will happen as the best is yet to come.

Have a great day and never forget, the power of a thank you!
PD