We Give Thanks To You, O God

November 2023

In a world of takers, God is a giver; in a world of darkness, He is the Light; in a world of misery, He is our joy; and in a world of fear, He is our faith. How can we help but thank Him for who He is and all He has given to us. Try this test: count how many times you say “Thank You” to God in a day, and do it for five consecutive days. Then at the end of each day thank God for giving you a thankful heart and so many wonderful blessings.

The Psalmist said, “We give thanks to You, O God, we give thanks! For Your wondrous works declare that Your name is near” (Psalm 75:1). The Lord is good, and He is better than good; He is great, and He is greater than great. He is so awesome and even more awesome than anyone or anything. When you pause to think about it, He is the source of every blessing, and He never outsources His giving!

President Calvin Coolidge once proclaimed in his Thanksgiving Proclamation, “We have been the most favored people. We ought to be a most grateful people. We have been the most blessed people. We ought to be the most thankful people.” That was true then, and it is true now — for individuals, couples, families, churches, and nations. Everything we have is from God, including the ability to enjoy and appreciate what He has given us.

God’s blessings come in all sizes, shapes, colors and textures. In fact, He perfectly tailors our blessings for us and tempers them with needed trials to keep us humble and thankful. Your stomach may be empty, your cupboard may be bare; but when you have His blessings, you have so much to share! Giving and thanksgiving go hand in hand together. He gives, and we give Him thanks; we give, and others thank us.

The hymn writer uttered those blessed words, “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.” We will thank God in heaven, but will we thank here on earth? Imagine if God gave us a house in portion to the amount of our thankfulness — would it be a shack or a mansion? Let us give thanks to our wonderful Lord not just on Thanksgiving Day but every day. We give thanks to You, O God.