06-16-2021, 08:18 PM
1. Psalm 23: So Much to Be Grateful for
“The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
He makes me lie down in green pastures.
He leads me beside still waters.
He restores my soul.
He leads me in paths of righteousness
for his name’s sake.
Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil,
for you are with me;
your rod and your staff,
they comfort me.
You prepare a table before me
in the presence of my enemies;
you anoint my head with oil;
my cup overflows.
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me
all the days of my life,
and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord
forever.”
It’s no surprise that this is one of the most recognized passages in all the scriptures. It’s beautiful, poetic, and comforting. It’s also a powerful reflection on God’s goodness.
Psalm 23 identifies many wonderful elements of God’s care that we might normally take for granted—or fail to recognize. David recognizes elements like God’s provision (I shall not want), spiritual renewal (he restores my soul), his discipline (your rod and staff, they comfort me), and his protection (you prepare me a table in the presence of my enemies).
We’re often tempted to take credit for precious moments of comfort, care, tranquility, and victory in our lives, but it’s important to recognize the loving hand of God’s providence in our lives.
start with generosity
2. Psalm 50:23: A Sacrifice of Gratitude
“The one who offers thanksgiving as his sacrifice glorifies me;
to one who orders his way rightly
I will show the salvation of God!”
Thanksgiving is one of the most important elements of worship. Not only are we recognizing God for his amazing attributes like sovereignty and patience, we are learning to recognize their presence in our lives. This not only glorifies God, it trains us to be more aware of God’s care in our lives.
3. Psalm 100:1–5: Thanksgiving: The Gateway to God’s Courts
“Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth!
Serve the Lord with gladness!
Come into his presence with singing!
Know that the Lord, he is God!
It is he who made us, and we are his;
we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.
Enter his gates with thanksgiving,
and his courts with praise!
Give thanks to him; bless his name!
For the Lord is good;
his steadfast love endures forever,
and his faithfulness to all generations.”
Full of passion and exuberance, this is a beautiful picture of worship. The image of entering his gates with thanksgiving is powerful. What if we thought of gratitude as the literal doorway into worship?
4. Psalm 107:1: Giving Thanks
“Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good,
for his steadfast love endures forever!”
Reiterating the words from Psalm 100, and driving them home even more, David reminds us to give thanks because God has been so good to us.
5. Psalm 118:28–29: Personal Gratitude for Corporate Salvation
“You are my God, and I will give thanks to you;
you are my God; I will extol you.
This is the day that the Lord has made;
let us rejoice and be glad in it.”
6. Psalm 136: 1–3: Responding to God’s Steadfast Love with Thanksgiving
“Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good,
for his steadfast love endures forever.
Give thanks to the God of gods,
for his steadfast love endures forever.
Give thanks to the Lord of lords,
for his steadfast love endures forever”
But even more importantly, the Lord wanted to ensure that this element of his character would really make its way into our hearts. Take a moment to consider the concept of eternity….it’s almost impossible for us to really fathom—and yet “forever” is the only way to really communicate the height, breadth, and depth of God’s love.
7. Lamentations 3:22–24: God’s Never-Ending Mercies
“The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases;
his mercies never come to an end;
they are new every morning;
great is your faithfulness.
‘The Lord is my portion,’ says my soul,
‘therefore I will hope in him.’”
Here we have the author of Lamentations (likely Jeremiah) reiterating the Psalms’ theme of God’s steadfast love. And then he adds a beautiful meditation on God’s mercy.
Not only is God’s mercy never ending, it’s renewable. We’re not living off yesterday’s provision. And knowing that God is extending fresh grace fills me with gratitude—and a reinvigorated conviction to walk in his ways.
***************************************************************************
I don't have the prayers and prose of Ice Wizard. But the Lord allowed me a lovely house. The last rental home left in my areas.
Too exhausted to do much today. Far more unpacking and organizing to do. But, with God's grace and mercy He allowed me to make it up here. To a glorious area that I always loved.
Praise the Lord.
“The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
He makes me lie down in green pastures.
He leads me beside still waters.
He restores my soul.
He leads me in paths of righteousness
for his name’s sake.
Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil,
for you are with me;
your rod and your staff,
they comfort me.
You prepare a table before me
in the presence of my enemies;
you anoint my head with oil;
my cup overflows.
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me
all the days of my life,
and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord
forever.”
It’s no surprise that this is one of the most recognized passages in all the scriptures. It’s beautiful, poetic, and comforting. It’s also a powerful reflection on God’s goodness.
Psalm 23 identifies many wonderful elements of God’s care that we might normally take for granted—or fail to recognize. David recognizes elements like God’s provision (I shall not want), spiritual renewal (he restores my soul), his discipline (your rod and staff, they comfort me), and his protection (you prepare me a table in the presence of my enemies).
We’re often tempted to take credit for precious moments of comfort, care, tranquility, and victory in our lives, but it’s important to recognize the loving hand of God’s providence in our lives.
start with generosity
2. Psalm 50:23: A Sacrifice of Gratitude
“The one who offers thanksgiving as his sacrifice glorifies me;
to one who orders his way rightly
I will show the salvation of God!”
Thanksgiving is one of the most important elements of worship. Not only are we recognizing God for his amazing attributes like sovereignty and patience, we are learning to recognize their presence in our lives. This not only glorifies God, it trains us to be more aware of God’s care in our lives.
3. Psalm 100:1–5: Thanksgiving: The Gateway to God’s Courts
“Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth!
Serve the Lord with gladness!
Come into his presence with singing!
Know that the Lord, he is God!
It is he who made us, and we are his;
we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.
Enter his gates with thanksgiving,
and his courts with praise!
Give thanks to him; bless his name!
For the Lord is good;
his steadfast love endures forever,
and his faithfulness to all generations.”
Full of passion and exuberance, this is a beautiful picture of worship. The image of entering his gates with thanksgiving is powerful. What if we thought of gratitude as the literal doorway into worship?
4. Psalm 107:1: Giving Thanks
“Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good,
for his steadfast love endures forever!”
Reiterating the words from Psalm 100, and driving them home even more, David reminds us to give thanks because God has been so good to us.
5. Psalm 118:28–29: Personal Gratitude for Corporate Salvation
“You are my God, and I will give thanks to you;
you are my God; I will extol you.
This is the day that the Lord has made;
let us rejoice and be glad in it.”
6. Psalm 136: 1–3: Responding to God’s Steadfast Love with Thanksgiving
“Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good,
for his steadfast love endures forever.
Give thanks to the God of gods,
for his steadfast love endures forever.
Give thanks to the Lord of lords,
for his steadfast love endures forever”
But even more importantly, the Lord wanted to ensure that this element of his character would really make its way into our hearts. Take a moment to consider the concept of eternity….it’s almost impossible for us to really fathom—and yet “forever” is the only way to really communicate the height, breadth, and depth of God’s love.
7. Lamentations 3:22–24: God’s Never-Ending Mercies
“The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases;
his mercies never come to an end;
they are new every morning;
great is your faithfulness.
‘The Lord is my portion,’ says my soul,
‘therefore I will hope in him.’”
Here we have the author of Lamentations (likely Jeremiah) reiterating the Psalms’ theme of God’s steadfast love. And then he adds a beautiful meditation on God’s mercy.
Not only is God’s mercy never ending, it’s renewable. We’re not living off yesterday’s provision. And knowing that God is extending fresh grace fills me with gratitude—and a reinvigorated conviction to walk in his ways.
***************************************************************************
I don't have the prayers and prose of Ice Wizard. But the Lord allowed me a lovely house. The last rental home left in my areas.
Too exhausted to do much today. Far more unpacking and organizing to do. But, with God's grace and mercy He allowed me to make it up here. To a glorious area that I always loved.
Praise the Lord.
It is Well with My Soul