Thanksgiving for God’s Goodness
A psalm. A song for the Sabbath day.
It is good to praise you, Lord,
to sing praises to God Most High.
It is good to tell of your love in the morning
and of your loyalty at night.
It is good to praise you with the ten-stringed lyre
and with the soft-sounding harp.
Lord, you have made me happy by what you have done;
I will sing for joy about what your hands have done.
Lord, you have done such great things!
How deep are your thoughts! Psalm 92:1-5 (NCV)
I’ve recently been thinking a lot about God’s goodness and the need to be full of gratitude for His work in my life: His faithfulness, His grace, His provision…
When I give thanksgiving to the Lord for everything He has done for me, in the good times and in the bad, it is a witness, a testimony to me and to others of His unfailing love.
Whether I sing as David sang or dance as David danced, my own personal expression of gratefulness is what the Lord is craving from me, appreciation of my Creator, my Protector, my Provider, my Savior, my Lord. Praise is the way to fill God’s love tank with just-my-size love – spending quality time with Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, offering words of affirmation, bestowing the valuable gift of myself, touching His heart and presenting myself to His service.
As I lift up His name to the heavens in praise, I take a moment to reflect on Him, and take my focus off of the stresses of life in the world. I remember that even in moments when I have felt alone, He has always been there, His footprints revealing the times He has walked with me and the times He has carried me because I could no longer walk myself.
As I praise Him all day long, in the morning, noon, and night, joy rises up within me, happiness bubbles to the surface of my heart and with that gladness comes contentment and peace. I am once more able to rest in Him.
Rest.In.Me. (Matthew 11:28-30)
And, that, I believe that is the true definition of “Sabbath”.
Blessings – Julie (writing from Sholavandan, India)
Scripture taken from the New Century Version®. Copyright © 2005 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Sixty-six books in a year 