“We give thanks to You, O Lord, we give thanks! For Your wondrous works declare that Your Name is near.” Psalm 75:1

Live Thankful

God’s Word is a continuous expression of His character, great love, mercy, purpose, power, and much more! Thankfulness should be our natural response to His actions and written Word. When we allow God’s love to grab our hearts, how can we not be so thankful that gratitude would be the outpouring of our heart’s song!

Hearing revival each new day with its freshness and with the soft breeze bringing a sense of peace can bring hope no matter what is going on in our lives. In this freshness, the Lord reminds us that He has our concerns and He is working for our good and His glory! All is in His marvelous control. We can utterly trust Him, which then brings the natural response of thankfulness.

Many small crises happen daily and remembering that the Lord “has this” isn’t usually my first thought. It’s the enemy’s intent to steal my focus from God and put it on the situation, which leads to a downward spiral. But when I choose to live in thankfulness as I discipline my focus on God, the enemy has to flee.  

It’s God’s will for us to be thankful. “In everything give thanks, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you” (1 Thessalonians 5:18). I’ve been very blessed in life and have not suffered with disaster or great grief too often. But I know a few people who seem to suffer great pain and loss, and/or bad things continue to happen. It is hard to live in thankfulness when dealing with “life stuff,” but to live in thankfulness in continuing grief and suffering would be impossible without the Lord and the support of God’s people. I have a friend with the gift of encouragement beyond human capacity. The Lord gives her ideas and energy to be His arms around the suffering. Maybe it is because she has suffered much in her own life.  I’m very blessed and thankful to watch God work through her! It makes me stop and appreciate God’s incredible care using the gifts of His people who love Him. 

God has given us only so many days here on earth to live glorifying Him, and I want to finish well. I pray continually to have this heart of appreciation to our God and be contagious with joy for His glory to all those God puts in my life. Have you ever met people that ooze this appreciation? It’s my prayer for all of us, too!

“To the end that (my) glory may sing praise to You and not be silent. O LORD my God, I will give thanks to You forever!” (Psalm 30:12)

“Father, thank You for the breath You give just to sing and speak Your praises. Please open our eyes to see You work in all things so that an outflow of thankfulness would be our response, and when people rub against us, may appreciation for You ooze from our beings. You are worthy, Lord!”