Daily Devotional for Friday, November 8

The Reasons To Give Thanks

“O give thanks unto the Lord; for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever,” Psalm 136:1.

“I can never thank you enough.” People say that a lot when someone has done something for them that they really appreciate. It sometimes seems those words are just empty platitudes and social niceties. Do people really mean it? What if the other person actually told them how they could show thanks? That would be quite the upending of social conventions. We are quick to show our appreciation to others for what they do for us. That is how it should be; we should be grateful for the gifts we are given.

This psalm has twenty-six verses. The phrase “for his mercy endureth for ever” (verse 1) appears at the end of each verse. I always like to say that God repeats things when He wants us to know it is important. With twenty-six repetitions, I suspect this concept is one God wants us to understand. Intermingled among that phrase is a list of historical occasions in which God had brought deliverance and provision to His people. Unfortunately, we need frequent reminders regarding who both delivers and sustains us. Some people give us a ride to work, and we effusively thank them. God sustains us every day, and we forget entirely about thanking Him.

As I read this, I became convicted by how I take God for granted. Sometimes, I assume he just hangs around and steps in as He sees fit. The truth is that God is directly involved in every minute detail of my life. He is engaged intimately in your life as well. When was the last time you told God thanks?

JUST A THOUGHT
As the phrase says, “If you woke up today with only the things you thanked Him for yesterday, how much would you have left?”

Wally Fry