Let Us Come Before His Presence With Thanksgiving

The word “thankful” is defined as: “Deeply sensible of kindness received and disposed to acknowledge it; grateful; as, a thankful spirit.” “Thanksgiving” as; “The expression of gratitude, of the acknowledgment of kindnesses, particularly, the rendering of such thanks to God.” Paul says: “For every creature of God is good, and nothing to be refused if it be received with thanksgiving.”

The word “gratitude,” as a synonym for thanksgiving, more properly and correctly interprets the true thought of the subject in this instance, as the following definitions amply testify; “A sense of appreciation of favors received, accompanied with good will toward benefactor. Gratitude is the natural repose of the heart to kindness intended or received” (Standard Dictionary). The author of “Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures” on page 3 clearly defines the true Scriptural meaning of gratitude—and in this case thanksgiving—thus: “Gratitude is much more than a verbal expression of thanks. Action expresses more gratitude than speech.” And on the following page she says, “Outward worship is not of itself sufficient to express loyal and heartfelt gratitude.” It is well also, in this connection, to study the words of opposite meaning. “Ingratitude” is defined as: “Indisposition to reciprocate; insensibility to kindness.” Seneca has said, “Ingratitude is, of all the crimes, that which we are to account the most venial in others, and the most unpardonable in ourselves.” Mrs. Eddy associates ingratitude with injustice, sensuality, hatred, and greed, in connection with the betrayal and persecution of Jesus. (See Science and Health, pp. 47, 94)

After the supposed fate of Daniel had been sealed and he was about to be cast into the lions’ den, he “prayed, and gave thanks before his God, as he did a foretime.” Jesus the great Master prefaced his demonstration over sickness and death with “Father, I thank thee.” Paul admonishes the Colossians: “Continue in prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgiving.” He counseled the Ephesians to give thanks “always for all things unto God;” and to the Thessalonians he said: “In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God.” The Bible is pregnant with this thought of gratitude as being a necessary condition of mind in order to experience the influx of divine aid, guidance, and ministration. Paul says that thanksgiving should be continuous,—”for all things” and “in every thing,”—for this is according to divine law; meaning thereby the quality of thought as expressed in the deeper sense of appreciation, as well as the just recognition of God as the Giver of all good gifts.

It is quite evident that the psalmist as a teacher well knew the import of this amiable and conformable condition of mind when he sought to purify and elevate the minds of the people by urging them, one and all, to sing, to give praise, and to give thanks. His method of address, “Let us come,” preludes a gentle, leading, kindly frame of mind, which would join together in unity of thought, and which presupposes right desire, the effort to put aside any and all of those traits of the carnal mind designated as hate, malice, envy, jealousy, revenge, selfishness, since these are at “enmity against God.” To come before God’s presence by or through the avenue of thanksgiving or gratitude must surely mean to receive a divine blessing—to be healed of every mental and bodily ill; to be made every whit whole; to be regenerated, and this without regard to the limitation of age or time, of place, circumstance, or condition; in fact, it is not even thinkable that any one could approach the presence of divine Love and not receive the blessings which God, who is Love, can and does bestow.

Aside from the Biblical admonition to “give thanks,” human experience furnishes abundant proofs of the benefit derived from this quality and attitude of human thought. Indeed it is quite evident that he who cultivates the true spirit of thankfulness is a most fortunate and happy individual; and as the definitions plainly indicate, the attainment of this Christian state of mind is worthy of the highest aspiration and constant effort of every human being.

For nearly two thousand years the Bible has proffered to mankind gracious promises and assurances: that “God is a very present help in trouble;” that He is “no respecter of persons;” neither withholdeth He good from any man. Scholastic theology has and still does proclaim these divine promises, but it has failed to make them practical and available to suffering humanity, and because of this many an unfortunate sufferer has become disheartened. To such, the advent of Christian Science is the dawn of a new day in its practical fulfilment of these promises. The tens of thousands who bear testimony to this fact furnish the irrefutable evidence of its value. This practical record of Christian Science is of itself a sufficient reason for praise and thanksgiving to God as the giver of all good, and for deepest gratitude to the one whose purity of thought, integrity of purpose, fidelity to truth, and depth of love enabled her to “come before his presence” and receive the revealed word which, today as of old, is healing “all manner of sicknesses,” setting the captive free.

The import of thanksgiving to students of Christian Science is a law of harmony to their well-being. Experience has taught them that the more freely they give praise to God for the blessings which Christian Science has brought them, and the more obedient they are to the command, “Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness,” the more freely do they receive from the infinite abundance. Christian Scientists know the truth of what Mrs. Eddy teaches, that “Soul has infinite resources with which to bless mankind,” and that “giving does not impoverish us in the service of our Maker, neither does withholding enrich us” (Science and Health, pp. 60, 79). Therefore the free giving of all things does not take from but rather adds to the capacity and opportunity of receiving. This wisdom of generosity and kindness must include the giving of a cup of cold water in Christ’s name, the forgiving of our debtors, the putting aside of cherished views and beliefs of so-called human knowledge, and the breaking asunder of the bonds and limitations of sense.

This open way of gratitude in Christian Science, which leads us into the presence of the all-good, all-truth, all-intelligence, and all-love, is now and forever free and unobstructed for all, and to all, who may choose to enter the path to the “green pastures” of plenteous grace, and “beside the still waters” of living sustenance, and who receive the healing, redeeming influence of omnipotent Love, the infinite blessings which Christian Science confers upon men and women here and now, whereby they may enter into the joy of the Lord.