Eucharisteo is the Greek word meaning: to give thanks. It’s a verb, so an act of our will is involved. We can choose to give thanks or to withhold it. I’m learning to live thanks moment by moment by reading Ann Voskamp’s One Thousand Gifts: A Dare to LIVE FULLY Right Where You Are. (Zondervan; 2010) I’ve taken her dare and am on my way to recording my one thousand gifts from God. She’s helping me change my perspective and open my eyes to see God’s miracles in my everyday life. The page numbers and quotes from Ann in this post are from this book.
Ann says, “Eucharisteo always, always precedes the miracle. Thanksgiving creates abundance; and the miracle of multiplying happens when I give thanks –take the just one loaf, say it is enough, and give thanks—and He miraculously makes it more than enough.” (pg 72) She’s referring to the story of Jesus feeding the 5,000 men along with their women and children as told in John 6. “Jesus said, ‘Have the people sit down.’ There was plenty of grass in that place, and they sat down (about five thousand men were there). Jesus then took the loaves, gave thanks, and distributed to those who were seated as much as they wanted. He did the same with the fish. When they had all had enough to eat, he said to his disciples, ‘Gather the pieces that are left over. Let nothing be wasted.’ So they gathered them and filled twelve baskets with the pieces of the five barley loaves left over by those who had eaten.” (verses 10-13; NIV) Just the few loaves and fish were miraculously transformed to abundance when Jesus gave thanks for them.
The biblical instructions and promises regarding thanksgiving are numerous. Ephesians 5:20 says, “always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.” 1 Thessalonians 5:18 instructs us to “give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” Though our circumstances may not seem good to us, we need to trust that nothing comes to us but that God has filtered it through His grace. There are greater things in store than our comfort or pleasure. Someone else may need to see God in our circumstance now or in the future. Circumstances may be lining up for a great miracle of God. If we can just look beyond our interpretation of feelings or events and give God thanks in the midst of it, we are in God’s will for us.
Even the very way we enter God’s presence is to be prepared with thanksgiving. “Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name. For the LORD is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations.” (Psalm 100:4,5; NIV) Remembering God’s character and thanking Him for His goodness, love and faithfulness is the way to enter into His presence.
What are some of the miracles God may miraculously transform in our lives when we willfully give thanks in all circumstances? At the heart of the word eucharisteo is another Greek word: charis. Strong’s dictionary says charis is: (a) grace, as a gift or blessing brought to man by Jesus Christ, (b) favor, (c) gratitude, thanks, (d) a favor, kindness. Only in Jesus Christ can we know the kindness and favor and yes the blessing of God that is His grace. Ann says, “We only enter into the full life if our faith gives thanks…Thanksgiving is the evidence of our acceptance of whatever He gives. Thanksgiving is the manifestation of our Yes! to His grace.” (pg. 39)
John 1 tells us, “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. And from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace.” (verses 14 & 16; ESV) Giving thanks for every gift God gives me multiplies His grace upon grace in my life. When I choose to see and accept what He gives me, I can’t help but be thankful. I can’t imagine how it would be to try to live without His blessing. Even if I don’t understand some of His gifts or wouldn’t call them good, the Bible tells me to give thanks because I trust Him to be full of grace and truth.
Another miracle multiplied by eucharisteo is joy. There are of course many references to joy in the Bible. (The NIV translates 242.) Ann says, “Thanks is what multiplies the joy and makes any life large, and I hunger for it.” (pg 48) Psalm 16:11 says, “You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.” (ESV) We’ve already seen that the way to enter His presence is with thanksgiving (Psalm 100:4). His presence is where the fullness of joy rests. I hunger for that, too. Joy isn’t just for the happy times when everything seems to be going well. Psalm 94:19 tells us, “When anxiety was great within me, your consolation brought me joy.” Even when circumstances fill us with anxiety, the comfort of God brings the miracle of joy in the midst of those circumstances.
Romans 15:13 transitions to the next miracle. “ May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” (NIV) Peace is not easily found in our world—either inner peace or peace with our neighbor. Trusting to do things God’s way is how the God of hope will fill us with His peace. He instructs is in Philippians 4: 6,7, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” Again, I have the choice in my circumstances. I can be anxious, or I can choose eucharisteo. I can look for God’s gift, His grace, in my circumstance, and I give Him thanks along with my request. Then His peace will guard my heart and mind. Like the bumper sticker says, “No God: No Peace. Know God: Know Peace.” It seems to me that if we want peace, we have to come to eucharisteo. I’ve practiced this in my prayers for years, and I can say it works for me. There’s always something to give thanks about. As Ann says, “Don’t I always have the choice to be fully attentive? ‘Where you are, be all there’ is only possible in the posture of eucharisteo. I want to slow down and taste life, give thanks, and see God.” (pg 77)
To see God as He really is, is to experience the fourth miracle. Ann says, “there is no real reality, no full life, outside of the relationship with Love, because God Himself wraps Himself eternally in relationship: God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit existing in relationship, an encircling dance of communion sweetest. God is love—everywhere! everything!” (pg 212) This is what makes being a follower of Jesus different than any other religion in the world. We followers are not religious. That is we don’t follow a set of rules and behaviors in hopes of finding God’s favor. He tells His people in Isaiah 43:4 that “ you are precious and honored in my sight, and … I love you.” (NIV) Instead of rule following, we have an intimate relationship with Him who defines Himself as Love. (1 John 4:8) Love is the One who tells us, “I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with unfailing kindness.” (Jeremiah 31:3) That’s a miracle of abundance: everlasting love. To know I am loved by God causes me to trust Him and follow Him with my life. And, it causes me to respond with eucharisteo.
“God is always good and I am always loved. Everything is eucharisteo. Because eucharisteo is how Jesus, at the Last Supper, showed us to transfigure all things—take the pain that is given, give thanks for it, and transform it into a joy that fulfills all emptiness…The hard discipline to give thanks for all things at all times because His is all good.” (pg. 100) Whether my gift is painful, beautiful, scarce, abundant, practical or to enjoy, when I thank God for His grace, I see His miracles and He receives the glory.
You can read Ann Voskamp’s blog on her website: http//:www.aholyexperience.com.
