Today’s Reading: Leviticus 8; Psalm 9; Proverbs 23; 1 Thessalonians 2
I will give thanks to the Lord with my whole heart; I will recount all your wonderful deeds. Psalm 9:1
How many times do we say thank you throughout your day? Some of our thank you’s can just role right of the tongue possibly without eye contact with the person you are talking with. Other times saying thank you can bring you to your knees with tears of joy. Whether your thank you’s are out-loud or part of a prayer how often are they said with your whole heart?
Psalm 9:1 is a convicting and inspiring verse for me. I know, personally I have been at both ends of the spectrum with my use of saying “thank you“. Examples can include; the everyday exchanges of small talk thank you ( E.g. How are you today? Good, thank you!). A joyful, open arms, heartfelt, eye watering, thank you that you have with God for your significant other when you find out they are alright after a scare, for your child and wife while in labor, (and every instance that comes after that where your child or spouse requires serious medical attention) a family member uniting with their another family after time away of not seeing each other, a mother who loses one of her twins during pregnancy and thankfully prays for the health of the other. The thank you share when hearing or seeing testimonies of a people who’s lives have been changed through God. We have so much to be thankful for, we just need to stop and recognize and recount these blessings.
God has provided a life for us that deserves a whole hearted “thank you”. Everyday is different and whatever way you spend your hours, minutes, and seconds in a day, everything deserves praise and thanksgiving. It’s so easy just gloss over the amazing deeds He provides like we deserve them? God wants us to be thankful, He has provided and will provide all our trials and joyful moments. Our challenge is one of being whole hearted in being thankful during these times. I often take what we have for granite without taking more time to recount His wonderful deeds. In our prayer life you may have been taught the acronym A.C.T.S or P.R.A.I.S.E pattern for praying. This was recently discussed in our small group and reminded me about giving thanks during each of our prayers. ACTS stands for Adoration, Confirmation, Thanksgiving, and Supplementation. PRAISE stands for Praise, Repentance, Ask, Intercede, Speak, Enjoy. Both patterns require us to thank God for who He is and all He has done. Whether you use either one or neither format for praying God has purposely put people and events that deserve whole heart thank you’s in our journey towards an eternal destination with Him. He has a reason for everything.
Here are a few verses to highlight verses that refer to giving thanks or being thankful.
Numbers 11:4-6 4 Now the rabble that was among them had a strong craving. And the people of Israel also wept again and said, “Oh that we had meat to eat!5 We remember the fish we ate in Egypt that cost nothing, the cucumbers, the melons, the leeks, the onions, and the garlic. 6 But now our strength is dried up, and there is nothing at all but this manna to look at.” (just like the Israelites are we grateful for what God has given us or are we always thinking about what we would like to have? Some situations God puts us in helps develop an attitude of being grateful)
1 Chronicles 16:8-34 David’s Song of Thanks – (a continuous part of life)
Psalm 86:12 I give thanks to you, O Lord my God, with my whole heart, and I will glorify your name forever.
Psalm 92:1-2 It is good to give thanks to the Lord, to sing praises to your name, O Most High;2 to declare your steadfast love in the morning, and your faithfulness by night, (all day long!)
Psalm 138: 1-3 I give you thanks, O Lord, with my whole heart; before the gods I sing your praise;2 I bow down toward your holy temple and give thanks to your name for your steadfast love and your faithfulness, for you have exalted above all things your name and your word. 3 On the day I called, you answered me; my strength of soul you increased. (in all areas of life)
Luke 17:16 and he fell on his face at Jesus’ feet, giving him thanks. Now he was a Samaritan. (demonstrated by the Leper)
Ephesians 5:20 giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, (for God’s strength)
Colossians 3:16 And be thankful. 16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. (increasing your thankfulness)
1 Thessalonians 5:18 give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. (how to give thanks in everything)
Hebrews 12:28 Therefore let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, and thus let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe, (we receive a kingdom that cannot be shaken)
Dear God,
We lovingly thank you for all you do. You love us and have given a grace we don’t deserve. Lord I pray you will lead us along the path you want us to take giving us the recognition to pause and recount your amazing blessings you fill our day with. Help me to live in balance and not chase after things that are not of your will. Help us to think of you every time we say Thank You and lift up your name knowing its all in your hands. God thank you for your Son Jesus and providing us with the Word to guide us along this journey to an eternal destiny that is with you.
Amen