Give Thanks To The Lord

GIVE THANKS TO THE LORD AND PRAISE HIS NAME. Psalm 100.4. NIV.

Psalm 100 is a song that encourages us to give thanks to the LORD. Even though the author is not mentioned, it follows King David’s style! He is one who outshines all others with his heartfelt love for God, reverence for who He is and gratitude for all that the LORD GOD had done for him.

Learn from Psalm 100 the many reasons for giving thanks to God and praising Him. 1) It is God who made us. 2) We are His. 3) We are His people. 4)We are ‘the sheep’ of his pasture. 5)The LORD is good. 6) His love endures forever. 7) His faithfulness continues through all generations.

Turn for a moment to another psalm of David, Psalm 103. Here he calls to his own soul and says, “Praise the LORD, O my soul; all my inmost being, praise his holy name.” Then he gives a number of solid reasons why his soul should praise the LORD: 1) For all His benefits. 2) Forgiving all his sins. 3) Healing all his diseases. 4) Redeeming his life from the pit – death. 5) Crowning him with love and compassion. 6) Satisfying his desires with good things. 7) Renewing his youth like the eagle's.

This is only the beginning of recounting the reasons to thank and praise the LORD. Read on and you will find some of the greatest and the most intimate reasons for endless praise and worship in gratitude to the LORD. Listen to the most tender reason for any one of us to Bless the LORD, which I love most and quote often - “for as a father has compassion on his children so the LORD has compassion on us!”

There is one other important reason to give thanks to the LORD. It opens God’s heart and heaven’s windows to pour out answers to our anxious prayers! This is what the apostle Paul teaches us, “Never worry about anything. But in every situation let God know what you need in prayer and make your request while giving thanks” (Phil 4.6).

I have long learned Psalm 103 by heart and I have taught it to my children and their children! Why don’t you too try to learn it by heart so that you won’t forget the many reasons you have to thank and praise God? Have you read the book, that old book of the early Charismatic movement, “Prison to Praise”? Yes! Prayer can open prison's doors. Praise and prayer, like fasting and prayer, can get you out of whatever prison you may find yourself in now or at any time!

Pray and practise with me: Dear Lord, there are many reasons to pray because of my needs but surely there are many more reasons to thank and praise You before I make my requests and petitions to You. Amen.