Giving Thanks

"Then he took the seven loaves and the fish, and when he had given thanks, he broke them and gave them to the disciples, and they in turn to the people."
Matthew 15:36

I shared with you last week about the feeding of the five thousand. The scripture today is taken from the story of the feeding of the four thousand. Both events were similar. But what I want us to notice today is what Jesus did before the multiplying of the food took place. There would be no miracle if he did not do this one thing each time.
    When the five thousand were fed, Jesus looked up to heaven and gave thanks. When the four thousand were fed, he gave thanks before he broke the bread and fish. Later, when Jesus served the 'last supper' to the disciples, he gave thanks before he broke the bread. Do you see the connection here? Jesus understood that it was vitally important to thank God before he did anything. He didn't ask anything, he simply gave thanks to God. We don't know what he said and it probably has little importance to the story. I have already talked about the principle of exponential multiplication, now we must understand that God desires for us to be thankful.. What if your children never thanked you for anything you gave them? While we desire to give good things to our children, we also appreciate receiving a simple 'thank you.' In fact, we teach our children that it is polite to thank those who give gifts.
    The reason we pray before meals is because we have the example of Jesus doing it. I don't know exactly why it is important to God that we give thanks. But there is a dynamic that is produced when we do it. When Jesus did it, there was a divine multiplication of food. When we do it, it opens up the heavens for blessing. I believe Jesus probably thanked the Father for what was going to happen. He prayed as if it had already been done, because he knew that heaven would be opened and what he thanked God for, was done. Jesus taught us to be thankful.
    It is the time of year when we think more about being thankful. People who don't often give thanks, will at this time. But we need to learn to be thankful people at all times. Not only is God blessed by our thankfulness, but heaven is opened up to us when we do it. There is a spiritual principle that sets the blessings of God in motion when we are thankful. If we need a miracle, we should thank God for it as if it is already done. If we need a multiplication of food or finances, we should thank God for it as if we already have it. This is the kind of thankfulness that Jesus exemplified. And when he gave thanks, the thousands were fed and satisfied. We will be satisfied as well because heaven pours out the richest of fare.