It Is Good To Give Thanks

The American holiday "Thanksgiving" 2017 is over. The retail stores are currently focused on driving sales and ending the year on a positive note. Churches will now focus teaching efforts on the Christmas season and the birth of Christ. And don't forget year end giving, too. Speaking of the end of the year, leadership growth experts will now begin driving home the discipline of reflection on the year 2017 and brainstorming ways to make 2018 even better. 

While the above topics aren't necessarily bad, the idea of giving thanks can swiftly be forgotten. Moses began Psalm 92:1 by saying, "It is good to give thanks to the LORD." For the Christian, giving thanks is not limited to a few days in November. Giving God thanks can happen every day. Here are a few ways from Psalm 92 that we can give God thanks. 

Singing - Moses continued in Psalm 92:1, "And to sing praises to Your Name, O Most High." I am not against Christmas music, so please don't misunderstand. But it is good to give thanks to the Lord and to sing praises to His Name. Think through the lyrics you are singing. Who are you praising as you sing? Is the song about you or about God? 

A favorite song of thanks is titled 'Praise to the Lord the Almighty by Joachim Neander. Here are a few of the lines from the song:

Praise to the Lord, the Almighty, the King of creation!
O my soul, praise Him, for He is thy health and salvation!
All ye who hear,
now to His temple draw near;
praise Him in glad adoration.
http://www.mediashout.com/worship-songs-about-thankfulness/

Declaration - Moses tells us in Psalm 92:2, "To declare Your lovingkindness in the morning and Your faithfulness by night." Again, for Moses, giving thanks to God was not limited to once a year. Every morning and night, Moses was declaring the goodness of the Lord. 

One way you can declare the goodness of God in 2017 (and beyond) is through social media. Continue to give thanks beyond November for the works of God. A sermon on social media isn't necessary every morning and night, but declaring the blessings of God to those who scroll through the pages of social media can be a blessing to others as well. 

Reflection - Moses writes in Psalm 92:5, "How great are Your works, O LORD!" Personal growth experts will tell you to take time to reflect on the past year, on your successes and mistakes. Successful people take time to reflect every morning. For the Christian, taking time to reflect not on personal successes but on the works of God will most certainly lead to thanksgiving. 

Ask yourself these questions:
In what ways has God protected you in 2017?
How have you grown in your spiritual journey this year?
How has God comforted you in 2017?
How has the Spirit convicted you of sin this year?

These are a few questions you can ask as you reflect on God's mighty work in your life in 2017. Even if you don't feel like God has worked in your life in 2017, Paul reminds us in Philippians 1:6, "For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus."

Circumstances in our life change, people change, but God never changes. So no matter what has come into your life in 2017, because of the faithfulness and lovingkindness of our God, it is good to give Him thanks. 

Share below what you are thankful for.