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Don't Forget to Say Thank You

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It is good to give thanks to the Lord, and to sing praises to Your name, O Most High.
Psalm 92:1

One Sunday morning following the service a woman came up to the pastor and thanked him for the encouraging and edifying sermon he had just preached. In his response he said: "Thank you, but don't thank me, thank the Lord." She said, "Well, I thought of that, but it wasn't quite that good."

It is a sad thing when God's people cannot quite bring themselves to give thanks to the Lord. What a pity that in a world so full of God's goodness and mercy that it should be so empty of His praise. The Bible would remind us that it is a good thing to give thanks to the Lord (Psalm 92:1; 118:29). Here are some good things for which to be thankful:

Things (1 Tim. 6:17): Things are not all important in life, but they are important. All of us, especially we Americans, have lots of things for which we should be grateful. Our homes and garages are an Aladdin's Cave of stuff.

Health (Psalm 103:3-4): Health and strength are among life's most precious gifts. To be able bodied, and in use of our facilities is a matter of great thankfulness. We need to be on our knees in thanks that we are on our feet at all.

Adversity (Rom. 5:3-4): Adversity is God's sandpaper to rub off the rough edges of our character, and make us more like Christ. We can thank God for our trials for there is purpose to our pain. Travels broaden us but troubles deepen us.

Now (Psalm 118:24). There is no time like the present. The reason so many people find it hard to be happy is that they view the past as better than it was, and the future as better than it will be. Today is all we need, all we can handle, and all we have.

Kindness (Phil. 4:10-16): The care of others for us is an extreme blessing. No man is an island, and our lives are greatly enriched by the daily deposits of kind friends, family and strangers.

Salvation (Col. 1:12-13): The greatest gift of all is eternal life through our Lord Jesus Christ. There is no greater wealth than the riches of His grace. There is no greater health than soundness of soul. It is a good thing to give thanks to the Lord!

Heavenly Father, today I give You thanks. I want my life to be a testimony of thanksgiving for the entire world to witness. May my heart be filled with the praises of Your goodness and grace. Amen.