*Abba

“I didn’t know for years that if you really want to get to joy, there is only one road that will really get you there: thanksgiving.

I also didn’t know: Thanksgiving comes from the Hebrew word “Yadah” — which is to say YADAH, YADAH, YADAH means to give thanks, give thanks, give thanks.

“Give thanks (YADAH) to the Lord for his loving-kindness is everlasting.” (2Chr 20:21).

But I can’t stop thinking about how YADAH literally means: to acknowledge, to know what is true — to know & acknowledge the goodness of (Abba) God that is always true.

“Oh that men would praise (YADAH) the Lord for His goodness” (Ps 107:15).

Related to YADAH (thank), is the Hebrew word YADA — which means to know, but to know intimately, like Adam knew (YADA) Eve (Genesis 4:1)… like Moses asks to know God: “Please show me now your ways, that I may know (YADA) you in order to find favor in your sight.” (Exodus 33:13).

And both of these related words, YADAH and YADA come from the word YAD — the Hebrew word for hand.

Which is to say what I can’t get out out of my head, that the bottom line is:

If our hand has stretched out to know (Abba) God —
our hands will stretch up to thank (Abba) God.

If our hands have ever intimately known the face of (Abba) God, the kindness of (Abba) God, we cannot help but ultimately raise our hands in thanksgiving to (Abba) God.

Ultimately: To know (Abba) God is to thank (Abba) God.

Which means:

If we aren’t daily thanking (Abba) God — have we ever really known (Abba) God?

If we have truly known (Abba’s) God’s heart for us, how can we not raise our hands in thanksgiving to Him?

If we take time to truly know & notice the grace of (Abba) God in our days, how can we not acknowledge (Abba) God with our daily thanksgiving?

Count 3 gifts a day & you count #1000gifts by the end of the year, & you finish the year strong & begin the next year knowing (Abba) God.

What could be a better way to begin the holidays — the holy-days — than daily thanking (Abba) God — because how could we do anything less when we know a holy (Abba) God? 🔥

To be someone who so intimately knows (Abba) God, you ultimately (get) have to Thank (Abba) God!