Msg #435 Wednesday, November 22, 2006

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It is good to give thanks to the Lord,

And to sing praises to Your name, O Most High;

 To declare Your lovingkindness in the morning,

And Your faithfulness every night ...

For You, Lord, have made me glad through Your work;

I will triumph in the works of Your hands. (Ps 92:1-4)

It is good to be Thankful.

As we celebrate this annual holiday of Thanksgiving tomorrow – perhaps it can honestly draw us to a lifestyle that is marked with thanksgiving – that is what I am praying for.

Why should we be thankful?  Why is it good?

Thankfulness brings Joy.  Simply, one of the dangers in life is that we can so easily be focused on problems, needs, and questions before us that we miss the amazing things God has done for us.  As we stop and take time to be thankful – we become aware of all we have in the Lord…and such thoughts cause us to be “made glad”

Thankfulness brings Confidence.   As we realize how faithful God has been in the past – it can help us have confidence in the troubles and trials ahead of us.  I think of the children of Israel coming out of Egypt.  God worked amazing miracles on their behalf.  But as each new trouble come before them, it is like they forgot all that God had done and found themselves consumed by their present problem.  Thankfulness can change that – and help us face trials with confidence because we remember how God has worked. Thankfulness causes us to know “I will triumph”.

Yet – can I give you one simple key in real thanksgiving?  Notice in v.1 – the thanks is to be given “to the Lord”.  The thankfulness the Bible calls for is not just some general feeling that permeates our hearts.  It is to intentionally, willingly give that thanks to the Lord.   Can I simply call you to do this – to do this today, to do this during this holiday of thanksgiving and to do it continually.  Take time, specifically, intentionally – to go before the Lord and “forget none of His benefits” (Ps 103:2)

in everything give thanks;

for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. (1 Th 5:18)

Jim