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“Make a joyful shout to the Lord, all you lands! Serve the Lord with gladness; Come before His presence with singing. Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, and into His courts with praise. Be thankful to Him, and bless His name.”  Psalm 100:1, 2, 4   NKJV

Psalm 100 was a passage that I memorized and loved as a child. It paints a picture of joy bubbling over as worshipers go into the temple of the God they love, praising and giving thanks. In my mind, I can see them streaming toward the temple courtyard, almost dancing with their hands raised and a shout of praise on their lips. Praise and thankfulness go hand in hand, don’t they?

What would life be like if we were not thankful for anything? What if God continued to lavish good gifts on us –life, salvation, family, friendships, provision, guidance, wisdom, and protection – and we did not appreciate it? We would surely be able to see His hand all around us in the beauty of nature. Think of the starry skies, majestic mountains, and waterfalls. But the only emotion I can imagine if we weren’t genuinely thankful is—boredom. Boredom fills the vacuum left when thankfulness is absent.

There is no joy in boredom. There is only tedium, dullness, sameness, and a sense of entitlement. There is a feeling of emptiness, of being certain something is missing without knowing what it is. That leads to frustration. Do you know anyone like that? Do you want to be her? Me either.

The ability to be thankful and appreciate the power and grandeur of our Lord is what gives us the enjoyment of all His benefits.

Anyone of any age can practice gratitude. Even children can “count your blessings, name them one by one; count your blessings, see what God has done.” But the longer we walk with the Lord, the more aware we are of His hand at work in our lives, and the more we can appreciate the subtle things He has done for us. We also grow in appreciation for His might and power. So one of the greatest gifts you can give your children is to instill in them hearts of gratitude.

“Dear Heavenly Father, help us to always approach You with praise and thanksgiving. We are thankful for the blessings You shower upon us, for they make our lives worth living. Thank You for enabling us to recognize and cherish the good things You provide.”

For His Glory

Cherie Harbridge Williams (www.cherieharbridgewilliams.com)
TRBC Women’s Life