Oh Give Thanks To The Lord!
“Oh give thanks to the Lord , for he is good; for his steadfast love endures forever!”
— Psalm 118:1 ESV
This morning, I woke up with a simple prayer in my heart, “Oh give thanks to the Lord.”
Worship flows when the heart is pulled forward with gratitude, but often, thanksgiving begins when we fix our minds on the good things God has done.
This is exactly what Psalm 118 demonstrates through verse after verse that guides our attention toward the greatness and goodness of God. So much so that by the end of the reading, you might want to join in with the party described in Psalms 118:15 NIV: “Shouts of joy and victory resound in the tents of the righteous: ‘The Lord ’s right hand has done mighty things!’”
It is easy to see that gratitude is the most fitting posture to take in worship, even the best attitude to carry into a life of abiding in God’s presence. Still, gratitude is not always easy to maintain.
If you’re like me, the stresses of the world, failures, conflicts, and weariness all compete with gratitude for dominance over my thought life. On my worst days, I can be consumed with fear stemming from some issue I can’t resolve.
Living a life of gratitude doesn’t require us to pretend everything is okay. Instead, it is the insistence and conviction that God is still good no matter what takes place in your life.
Looking back on challenging circumstances, it is easier to see that God was present and faithful through the most difficult times. That reminds us that even in our moments of need, God cares.
God’s word is filled with useful instructions, prophetic revelation, and gospel truth, but it also constantly reminds our hearts and minds of the good things God has done. He was faithful then, he is faithful today, and he will be faithful tomorrow.
What would happen today if you allowed the truth of God’s goodness and greatness to shift the attitude of your mind toward remembrance? How would the condition of your heart change as the revelation of God’s extraordinary grace began to overflow with worship?
I see a people who are radiant with the goodness of God because they don’t forsake the ministry of gratitude. So give thanks to the Lord. He is a good God. His love is steadfast and endures forever!
