Robert Emmons, professor of psychology at the University of California-Davis, has studied the health benefits of thanksgiving. Thankful people have lower risks for depression, phobias, bulimia and alcoholism. People with high blood pressure not only lower their blood pressure, but feel less hostile and are more likely to quit smoking and lose weight when they practice gratitude. Those who care for relatives with Alzheimer’s disease feel less stress and depression when they keep daily gratitude journals and list the positive things in their lives. Just by expressing thanks, you increase your ability to be thankful.
Grateful people don’t focus so much on pain and problems. They are quicker to realize they have friends, families and communities to assist them in times of need. They see how they can help others in distress as well. Psalm 50 explains the pathway, obstacles and spiritual benefits of thanksgiving. 

Pathway to Thanksgiving
God is mighty and righteous, the perfection of beauty out of Zion, with credentials to judge the righteous and wicked. God is not silent, but gathers His godly ones to Himself as they glory in His attributes (Ps. 50:1-6). To be thankful, acknowledge God’s attributes of power, righteousness, sovereignty and holiness.

God owns everything. Every bird and cattle is His. God’s ownership includes the world and everything in it (Ps. 50:7-13). To be thankful, recognize that God is your God and He owns everything. 

All of this leads to the key command: Offer to God a sacrifice of thanksgiving and call upon Him when trouble comes (Ps. 50:14-15). Thanksgiving doesn’t come naturally and opposes your pride when you must recognize God’s attributes and His ownership of your life. 

Obstacles to Thanksgiving
Those who hate correction and discipline won’t thank God. Those who steal and involved in sexual sin won’t thank God.
Those with evil and deceptive speech won’t thank God. 
Those who slander a brother won’t thank God. 
Those who think God operates like humankind diminish His attributes and therefore, won’t thank God (Ps. 50:16-21).

Spiritual Benefits of Thanksgiving
Thanksgiving honors and glorifies God. Thanksgiving enables people to walk in such a way that they experience salvation, deliverance and freedom (Ps. 50:22-23).

Write a letter of thanksgiving to someone. Consider writing a daily journal that lists everything you are thankful for. 


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