Psalm 136 1-9 NIV 1 Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good. His love endures forever. 2 Give thanks to the God of gods. His love endures forever. 3 Give thanks to the Lord of lords: His love endures forever. 4 to him who alone does great wonders, His love endures forever. 5 who by his understanding made the heavens, His love endures forever. 6 who spread out the earth upon the waters, His love endures forever. 7 who made the great lights—His love endures forever. 8 the sun to govern the day, His love endures forever. 9 the moon and stars to govern the night; His love endures forever.
When we allow ourselves to take the center stage of history, accomplishments will always be followed by moments that make us cringe; victories by shortcomings; celebrations by sobering moments. Thankfully, we have a God who is big enough and holy enough to take center stage without breaking a leg or his promises. There is no failure nor fault in him. His-story makes our past, present and future hopeful.
Because history is not about us, but rather about God and his goodness, we can always think back and give thanks. Truly, if we can just think, we can give thanks. Because God is immutable, not only can we look back, but we can look now (like right this second) and give thanks because the goodness of God is unchanging. Ahhhhh… and if anxiety ever attempts to cloud your future, because the God of yesterday will never lessen in being God of eternity, you can give thanks in advance for the future.
Keeping an eagle eye on our good God creates a sense of gratefulness within the heart and mind of the believer. “You will keep him in perfect peace, Whose mind is stayed on You…” (Isaiah 26:3) This gratefulness is the soothing balm to anything that would disquiet our peace and joy; gratefulness for the greatest gift he has ever given to his people and will forever give to His people, that His love endures forever.
Gratefulness itself is good news! You cannot be grateful and unhappy at the same time. This means, you don’t have to switch jobs, spouses, buy a bigger car or home, or win the lottery to be happy. Simply being grateful will do the job quite well. A heart of gratefulness will bring you happiness, contentment, pleasure, gladness and joy. And may I remind you once again, you have an abundance of unfailing love (past, present and future) to be grateful for, “For His love endures forever.”
Prayer: Lord, we come today with a heart of thanksgiving born from the gratefulness of your unfailing love. You are the Lord of lords who does great wonders. You are the all wise God and creator of heaven and earth. And yet, more than anything you’ve made; you have shown your goodness all the greater in your love for me. So now, I count my blessings and I name them one by one. Blessings in nature, in the spirit, in my body, my family, my past, present and future. As I count, I notice one consistency, and that is you Lord. You have been there, in all of my there’s, through it all and in it all. Thank you for your unfailing love. This gratefulness I hold as a treasure today and always. Amen.
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