Thursday, February 10, 2011

Praise and Thanksgiving

“My soul, praise the Lord, and all that is within me, praise His holy name. My soul, praise the Lord, and do not forget all His benefits.” (Psalm 103:1-2)

Praise and thanksgiving are intentional. These are not arbitrary actions but occurs when we stop to think about how God has blessed us. They may erupt spontaneously, but only after we have taken the time to reflect, pray, and remember. That’s what David id in Psalm 103. He takes a moment to remember some of the benefits of knowing the Lord.

Forgiveness. In His holy sovereignty God could obliterate us all back to the dust with a single thought, but instead He chooses to forgive us out of His grace. Thank You, Lord. We praise You.

Healing. C. Everett Coop, former U.S. Surgeon General, says he has performed around 65,000 surgeries, but he has healed no one. He says that God who created the body causes the body to shoot out the fibroblasts that then bring healing. God is the Author of all healing. Thank You, Lord. We praise You.

Redemption. Whereas sin has all mankind heading to “the Pit,” God has intervened with His Son’s redemptive sacrifice on the cross, providing us with a doorway to eternity with Him in heave. Thank You, Lord. We praise You.

Crowning. God lifts us up and gives us a crown, treating us like royalty, making us part of His royal family with His faithful love and compassion. Thank You, Lord. We praise You.

Satisfaction. Remember a time when you had a great meal. When you finished, you had the great sense of satisfaction. You felt good. Now, transfer that feeling to the spiritual plane. God fills us with His Spirit and gives us a feeling of fullness and goodness, renewing our strength like and eagle that has just fed. Thank You, Lord. We praise You.

Thank You, Lord. We praise You. Intentionally. Amen.

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