December 23, 2024

Giving Thanks and Praise

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Last week was one of those weeks where I just wanted to throw my hands up in the air, scream, and just get away from what I was doing.  Nothing was going right.  At least in my mind, it was not going right.  In God’s eyes it was going right—right as He planned.

It seemed like I couldn’t do anything right at work, and it led to a literal crying meltdown.  Thankfully, one of our professors walked by my office and saw me crying.  Thank God for sending her.  I was just ready to walk out.

Thank God. It’s one of those phrases that many of us say on a daily basis. Thank God. Remember the preschool prayer, “God is great. God is good. Thank you for our foodAmen.”  We have been trained to thank God since we were toddlers.

Enter His gates with Thanksgiving, and His courts with praise! Give thanks to Him; bless His name.

Psalm 100:4

This verse has struck me for the past few days. We should thank God regardless of the situation. We should thank God for everything that He has given us on a daily basis, and thank Him everyday for sending His son, Jesus, to die for us.  He did not have to do that.  God stopped Abraham from killing Issac even though He had commanded Abraham to do so.  Abraham was doing as He commanded through his worship to God.  He was showing praise and thankfulness by doing as he was commanded.  Yet God stopped him.  Abraham was thankful for his blessing from God and was willing to sacrifice his own God-given son as commanded.  Yet God stopped him, but God did not stop Himself when Jesus hung on the Cross.  We should give thanks and praise for this every day.  Abraham was praising and thanking God by doing what he was commanded to do.  Jesus did the same on the cross when He followed God’s will for His life by dying for us. Thank God.

I try to thank God for everything I have everyday, whether it be when I first wake up or when I go to bed.  We should praise God everyday.  When we go to church, we praise the Lord through song, prayer, and worship.  Yet we are still in His courts when we leave the church door because we are still in the world He created.  His court is everywhere, not just at the church house door. Thank God. Praise God.

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Thank You, God.  Just thank You for all your blessings and the life you have given us.  May we praise Your name and thank You for all our days.  In Jesus’ name.  Amen.