Give Thanks To The Lord For He Is Good

November 2018

Psalm 106:1 says, “Praise the Lord! Oh, give thanks to the Lord, for He is good! For His mercy endures forever.” Though punctuation is not found in the original languages of the Bible, it is so appropriate to have two exclamation points in this verse for emphasis. The Lord is so worthy of our praise and thanksgiving, for He is good. We benefit when we give thanks to God, and conversely, when we are unthankful, we are more likely to be selfish, self-centered, unhappy, and complaining about almost everything.

It is all about having the right perspective, attitude, and consideration of the true source of what we have. The Doxology says, “Praise God, from whom all blessings flow; Praise Him all creatures, here below; Praise Him above ye heavenly host; Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Amen.” There is nothing we have that we have not been given by God. There is nothing we have achieved that we achieved without His help. There is nothing we own of which God is not the true owner, and we are but stewards and managers of His property and possessions.

The Apostle Paul made two remarkable statements about thanksgiving: “In everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you” (1 Thessalonians 5:18) and “Giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ” (Ephesians 5:20). This teaches us that we should give thanks in everything and for everything always. It is God’s will for us to give thanks, and our thanks is to be directed to our heavenly Father, the source of every blessing, in the name of His Son, our blessed Savior Jesus Christ.

Beyond the theological reasons for thanksgiving are the practical reasons. Thanking God for everything and in everything, makes us more humble, grateful, content, and happy. Life is sweeter, sunnier, and softer when we thank the Lord. The more we look for blessings around us, the more of them will we see. Maltbie D. Babcock once expressed, “Blessings brighten when we count them. Out of the determination of the heart the eyes see. If you want to be gloomy, there’s gloom enough to keep you glum; if you want to be glad, there’s gleam enough to keep you glad. Better lose count in enumerating your blessings than lose your blessings in telling over your troubles. Be thankful unto Him and bless His Name.” Let us consciously, continually, and consistently give thanks to the Lord for He is good.