I love listening to praise and worship music. Almost every morning, I wake up with a song on my mind. Recently, I woke up to a song I haven’t heard or thought of in years. Part of the lyrics include, “You are awesome in this place, mighty God.”
It brought back a sweet memory of the first time I heard it while driving to work. God used the lyrics of this song to remind me of His love, His power, and His presence during the hardest part of my previous marriage.
I had the absolute joy of visiting my son and his family in Hawaii when my granddaughter was only three days old. Along with the beauty of the island was the beauty of seeing my family I had not seen in over two years.
During my visit, I saw a window decal, similar to the one pictured, on my daughter-in-love’s car window. I asked her what the letters and symbol meant. She had to point out what should have been obvious to me – He is greater than I.
My reaction was one of amazement and a little shame because there it was, a powerful truth, plain as day and I didn’t even see it. I knew right then I had to have one of these decals, so my family later took me to the local beach shop where they were sold.
And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new… Revelation 21:5
It was the first time I had ever heard the birds singing outside my bedroom window. Or maybe it was the first time I noticed. But that day was different.
It was early Easter morning and the birds, in their vibrant lovely song, seem to be rejoicing on this special day celebrated as the resurrection of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. Psalm 23:3
I love to read. At any given time I have 2-3 books on my nightstand and the topics range from inspirational, educational, self-improvement to the occasional Christian fiction.
I was relaxing one evening and started reading a Christian fiction novel. I was thoroughly enjoying the book and the down time from a busy week that I was totally unprepared for what I was about to read.
Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving. Colossians 2:7
God loves to be praised and He also loves it when we give Him thanks to show our gratitude and appreciation for Who He is and what He’s done.
His precious Word communicates numerous ways and reasons to give thanks:
In prayer
Be careful for nothing; but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. Philippians 4:6
Continue in prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgiving; Colossians 4:2
It’s a good thing
It is a good thing to give thanks unto the LORD, and to sing praises unto thy name, O most High… Psalms 92:1
The more we thank the Lord, the more we find to be thankful for.
At church
I will give thee thanks in the great congregation: I will praise thee among much people. Psalms 35:18
In everything
In everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. 1 Thessalonians 5:18
It can be difficult to give thanks in everything. But if we allow Christ to show us, He will open our eyes to see His love for us through all the trying situations that come our way.
Before eating
And when he had thus spoken, he took bread, and gave thanks to God in presence of them all: and when he had broken it, he began to eat. Acts 27:35
Always
Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ; Ephesians 5:20
For the goodness and mercy of God
O give thanks unto the LORD, for he is good: for his mercy endureth forever. Psalms 107:1
For appointment to the ministry
And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who hath enabled me, for that he counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry; 1 Timothy 1:12
Whether you preach, teach a Sunday school class, volunteer in the nursery, lead worship, play an instrument, work the sound or media, or clean the church, thank the Lord for your ministry.
For victory
Now thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ, and maketh manifest the savour of his knowledge by us in every place. 2 Corinthians 2:14
Notice this scripture says God always causes us to triumph in Christ. One way or another, He will bring victory into your life and we can be thankful for it.
Blessings to you as you abound with thanksgiving!
For from the rising of the sun even unto the going down of the same my name shall be great…saith the Lord of hosts. Malachi 1:11
I don’t have many items on my bucket list. But the one thing that is at the very top is to see a glorious sunset on the ocean water.
Driving home from work one evening, I see a new billboard in the distance displaying a sunset on the water.
My delight immediately turns into horror the closer I get to it. The company advertised their logo as the sun’s reflection in the water.
I was a visitor that day, but I felt the warm welcome of my soon to be Savior. Oh, I’d heard about Him, went to church as a child and learned about how He died for my sins. But I never really knew Him until that hot, humid September night. The altar was beckoning me throughout the entire sermon.