Say Thank You!
There are days when it’s easy to say thank you to the Lord as I’m reminded of all His goodness towards me. There are also days when I forget because I’m focused on what hasn’t happened or how I’m feeling or what I don’t like. The latter never serves me well because He is always worthy of a thankful heart.
I have learnt much from a dear friend of mine who, regardless of what challenges she might be facing, when asked how she is doing, will always start with, “I’m thankful for. . .” Thanksgiving to God was of such great importance that some of the Levites were specifically appointed to just give thanks and praise to Him. In the book of Nehemiah there were two thanksgiving choirs. Imagine having a job of just giving thanks to the Lord!
I believe if we took some focused time, we would not have enough space to give thanks to Him for all He has done and His great love towards us. The etiquette to entering God's presence in the Old Testament was through thanksgiving and praise.
Psalm 100:4 Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name.
Now we gain access through the sacrificed blood and body of Jesus,
Hebrews 10:19 Therefore, brothers and sisters, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, 20 by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body
yet we are still encouraged to bring our spiritual sacrifices of thanksgiving and praise to be presented alongside His perfect sacrifice.
Hebrews 13:15 Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise—the fruit of lips that openly profess his name.
Let’s take a week and deliberately honor Him by making it ‘our job’ to give Him thanks for who He is and His great kindness and faithfulness towards us.
1 Chronicles 16:4 NIV “He appointed some of the Levites to minister before the ark of the Lord, to extol, thank, and praise the Lord, the God of Israel:”
Nehemiah 12:40 NIV “The two choirs that gave thanks then took their places in the house of God; so did I, together with half the officials,”
Psalms 50:23 NIV “Those who sacrifice thank offerings honor me, and to the blameless I will show my salvation.””
Psalms 100:4 NIV “Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name.”
