What is Thanksgiving?
 A celebration of the acts of GOD in our lives - Psa. 103:1-5 / Psa. 118:23

1. “A celebration”
Thanksgiving is more than simply saying “thank You.” It is a joyful response to what God has done. It involves recognizing, remembering, and openly expressing gratitude for His works.
2. “of the acts”
The word acts points to the things God has done:His interventions, blessings, deliverance, provision, protection, forgiveness, healing, and faithfulness.
Psalm 103:2 says:
“Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits.”
Thanksgiving requires us to remember His acts rather than forget them.

3. “of God”
Thanksgiving is ultimately directed toward God, because He is the source behind the blessings and victories we experience.
Psalm 118:23 declares:
“This is the LORD'S doing; it is marvellous in our eyes.”
We don't merely celebrate the blessing; we celebrate the God who made it possible.

4. “in our lives”
God's acts are not only things we read about in the Bible or hear about from others. Thanksgiving involves recognizing His personal dealings with us—what He has done in our individual lives, families, ministries, careers, and circumstances.
Therefore:
Thanksgiving is a celebration of the acts of God in our lives.
It is remembering what God has done, recognizing that He is the One who did it, and responding with joyful gratitude and praise.
Psalm 103:1–5 ? Remember His benefits.
Psalm 118:23 ? Recognize His doing.
Thanksgiving ? Celebrate His acts and give Him the glory.

Why must we give thanks?
 It is our guarantee for answered prayers - Phil. 4:6 / Matt. 6:6,13
How does thanksgiving relate to answered prayer?
1. Thanksgiving brings us into God's presence with faith.
Philippians 4:6 says:
“In every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.”
Prayer + Supplication + Thanksgiving = Making our requests known to God

We do not come to God only with our needs. We come remembering what He has already done. Thanksgiving strengthens our confidence that the God who answered before is still able to answer now.
example i need some urgent assistance. I ask a few buddies around me and no one was able to work, then someone from no where extends help. Having thanked the person, next time if i give thanking the person , if i need help , the confidence to go to same person is high,

Thanksgiving demonstrates trust before the answer comes.
When I thank God before I see the answer, I am saying:
“Lord, I trust You with this situation, and I believe You are working even though I cannot see the answer yet.”

So thanksgiving changes prayer from merely “God, give me this” to “God, I trust You with this.”

That attitude of faith is important because Scripture says:

“But let him ask in faith...” — James 1:6

What are we thanking God for?
? For His faithfulness in our lives – Ps. 92:1-3/ Ps 89:24
1. We thank God for His faithfulness in our lives
Psalm 92:1–3; Psalm 89:24

Psalm 92:1–2 presents thanksgiving as appropriate because God's lovingkindness and faithfulness are continually present. Psalm 89:24 adds that God's faithfulness is with His chosen servant.

What does this mean?
We thank God because He has remained faithful to us.
He has kept His promises even when circumstances changed.
He has sustained us through seasons of difficulty.
His faithfulness is not dependent on our circumstances.
Key thought:

We give thanks because God has been faithful, is faithful, and will remain faithful.

? For the victory we look forward to - 2Chr. 20:20-24
? For keeping the oil fresh on our heads – Ps. 89: 20-24/ Ps 92:1-3,10-11