The Book of Psalms often helps to revive and strengthen our weakened souls. In many situations--whether I am joyful, grateful or sad--I can find some verses in Psalms that aptly express what my heart feels. This psalm of thanksgiving by King David is a personal favorite.
I am thankful for my loving family and friends, whom I cherish very much. God has provided these people to love and care for me, so that through them I can experience and come to know the great extent of His love for me. He has bestowed upon me the Holy Spirit to give me the assurance that He is with me and will guide me.
Over the years, I have learned to thank the Lord for not only the good things He has given me, but also the hardships and worries I face in my daily life. These uneven, rocky paths have helped me learn to rely and trust in God rather than on my own ability. When I face difficulties, I spend more time in prayer and in reading the Bible in order to receive strength and comfort from the Lord. Having hardships and stress in life is not bad for me after all. They are actually blessings in disguise!
We often hear that we should not solely ask God to grant our every wish. Rather, our prayers should include words of thanksgiving to God. God doesn’t always answer prayer by granting the requests on our wish list. In times of danger or suffering, God listens to our prayers and answers us by providing the peace and comfort we need most.
I thank God for His great mercy because He is willing to forgive all our trespasses. He always gives us ample warnings and opportunities to turn away from our wrongdoings. The Bible records that God promised He would not leave or forsake us (Ps 94:14).
We also thank God for the love and mercy He has shown to all mankind. He sent His only begotten son to die in order to atone for the sins of all people. There is no other greater love than this (Jn 15:13). Therefore, we should strive to lead a life that pleases God and brings glory to Him. We should always remind ourselves of the great mercy of God and not take it for granted.
Surely, if we were to write down all the things we should be thankful for, then I believe the list would be unending. Therefore, we need to render praises, glory and thanks to God at all times, thanking God for all His wonderful deeds. Let us always sing the song of King David:
I will bless the Lord at all times,
His praise shall continually be in my mouth.
My soul shall make its boast in the Lord;
The humble shall hear of it and be glad.
Oh, magnify the Lord with me,
And let us exalt His name together. (Psalm 34:1-3)
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