Give Thanks to the LORD

It’s that time of year. So often we are thankful for special people in our lives, and perhaps for the good year we’ve experienced, or the good news we received. We look around at our lives and we are grateful. But do we sigh happily, acknowledging that we have much, or do we give thanks to the giver of all these good things?

James 1:17 says, “Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights…” The Bible makes it clear that every blessing is from God, that ALL good things come from Him. It also includes many prayers and stories that model words of gratitude. The words “thank” or “thanksgiving”—all referring to people’s behavior toward God—appear in over 177 biblical verses.

Read the psalm below. You will notice that, starting in verse 10, the psalmist gets very specific about what action the Lord took that makes him grateful. Substitute in your mind something that God has done in your life. Instead of “smote the Egyptians,” for instance, you might say “sent a kind good samaritan last month when my car broke down,” or something similar. Rewrite this psalm as your own thanksgiving prayer, from you to God. What great things has He done for you lately?

Psalm 136

1 Give thanks to the LORD, for He is good, For His lovingkindness is everlasting.

2 Give thanks to the God of gods, For His lovingkindness is everlasting.

3 Give thanks to the Lord of lords, For His lovingkindness is everlasting.

4 To Him who alone does great wonders, For His lovingkindness is everlasting;

5 To Him who made the heavens with skill, For His lovingkindness is everlasting;

6 To Him who spread out the earth above the waters, For His lovingkindness is everlasting;

7 To Him who made the great lights, For His lovingkindness is everlasting:

8 The sun to rule by day, For His lovingkindness is everlasting,

9 The moon and stars to rule by night, For His lovingkindness is everlasting.

10 To Him who smote the Egyptians in their firstborn, For His lovingkindness is everlasting,

11 And brought Israel out from their midst, For His lovingkindness is everlasting,

12 With a strong hand and an outstretched arm, For His lovingkindness is everlasting.

13 To Him who divided the Red Sea asunder, For His lovingkindness is everlasting,

14 And made Israel pass through the midst of it, For His lovingkindness is everlasting;

15 But He overthrew Pharaohand his army in the RedSea, For His lovingkindness is everlasting.

16 To Him who led His people through the wilderness, For His lovingkindnessis everlasting;

17 To Him who smote great kings, For His lovingkindness is everlasting,

18 And slew mighty kings, For His lovingkindness is everlasting:

19 Sihon, king of the Amorites, For His lovingkindness is everlasting,

20 And Og, king of  Bashan, For His lovingkindness is everlasting,

21 And gave their land as a heritage, For His lovingkindness is everlasting,

22 Even a heritageto Israel His servant, For His lovingkindness is everlasting.

23 Who remembered us in our lowestate, For His lovingkindness is everlasting,

24 And has rescued us from our adversaries, For His lovingkindness is everlasting;

25 Who gives food to all flesh, For His lovingkindness is everlasting.

26 Give thanks to the God of heaven, For His lovingkindness is everlasting.