For the LORD is good and His love endures forever
His faithfulness continues through all generations
Psalm 100:5
The year 2020 has certainly not been an easy one. What began as a nightly news story in March about a virus in Wuhan, China, became a crushing pandemic that so far has claimed over a million lives worldwide. Our lives have changed and been interrupted like never before this year. In households across this nation, families are asking themselves the question – “Should we even get together for Thanksgiving, considering everything that’s been going on?”
In spite of all this, it is that time of the year – it is Thanksgiving time in our nation. So, how does one feel thankful in a time when there doesn’t seem to be much worth celebrating? How do we feel grateful when everything seems to be a mess? Truly, counting our blessings is a good place to start.
I would like us to briefly focus our attention on the last verse of Psalm 105 which gives us three reasons to praise God, as we begin counting our blessings: 1) For the Lord is good 2) His love endures forever; and 3) His faithfulness continues through all generations.
Think about this with me for a moment please. The psalmist says: “For the Lord is good.” This speaks of God’s character, that God is good and all He does is good. I do not know the personal circumstances of everyone. Some of you are in difficult places and wonder if things will ever get better. While I don’t know the particulars of your situation, I do know this: God has been good to you and to me. I am sure we could all make a list of reasons to give thanks to God: For family, friends, good health, good grades, a good job, a good report from the doctor, and so on. However, Psalm 100 asks us to praise God simply because He is good. This is the highest form of praise, when we praise God not for what He does but for who He is.
So, how long has it been since you spent just a few minutes in prayer with your heavenly Father expressing your gratitude and appreciation to Him? How long has it been since you spoke with Him, making no request, no petitions, just expressing your heart’s genuine gratitude by saying, “Thank you, Lord”? May I encourage you, in the midst of all of the great needs you may be facing, or the great things you may be seeking, to simply pause and give thanks to the Lord for all that He has already done? Take a couple of minutes from your busy schedule, pause, take a deep breath, clear your mind, and voice to Him your thanks. Just let the gratitude flow from the fountain of a grateful heart.
“Count your blessings,” as the old hymn says. I believe that by doing so, it will affect our vision and help us see things we may have missed before. It may well be that the answer to our most complex troubles will be found in the simplicity of giving thanks to God.
When upon life’s billows you are tempest tossed
When you are discouraged, thinking all is lost
Count your many blessings name them one by one
And it will surprise you what the Lord hath done.
Count your blessings, name them one by one
Count your blessings, see what God hath done
Count your blessings, name them one by one
And it will surprise you what the Lord hath done
~ From our family to you ALL – Happy Thanksgiving
Pastor John
Total Visits: 0Today's Visits: 0