George MacDonald (a 19th century author and pastor in Scotland) once wrote that “Obedience is the great opener of eyes.” We prefer to see before we step, and yet, sometimes without a step we can’t see. Obedience calls us around the corner of the building into better visibility.
If obedience opens eyes, we could also say that thankfulness expands the soul. Thankfulness is the great filler of being.
As it turns out, God has made it easy for us to find things for which to give thanks, and God has made it clear that to be obedient we must be thankful; it’s His will (1 Thessalonians 5:18). So when you obey by giving thanks, your eyes are opened to see more things for which to give thanks.
No one had better eyes than Jesus so no one could see all the reasons for thanks like Jesus. Jesus thanked the Father that the Father had hidden truth from the worldly wise but revealed truth to the children (Matthew 11:25). Jesus thanked the Father for hearing Him (in prayer) and that Lazarus was dead so that He could pray in front of others (John 11:41-42). Jesus thanked the Father for the bread and wine on the night He was betrayed (Luke 22:17, 19).
He obeyed, He could see, He gave thanks. So should we, that our souls would be filled with all the fullness of God (Ephesians 3:19).