DAILY DEVOTIONAL FROM PASTOR WESLEY July 5, 2024

It Is Good to Give Thanks

It is good to give thanks to the LORD And to sing praises to Your name, O Most High; To declare Your lovingkindness in the morning And Your faithfulness by night, With the ten-stringed lute and with the harp, With resounding music upon the lyre. For You, O LORD, have made me glad by what You have done, I will sing for joy at the works of Your hands. How great are Your works, O LORD! Your thoughts are very deep. Psalm 92:1-5

Have you ever wondered why the Bible repeatedly tells us to give thanks to the Lord? The main reason is because He deserves it. He created you and keeps your heart beating, so trying to claim your life as your own amounts to ingratitude. God created you to love Him, and He also sacrificed much to deliver you from your sin. Expressing thankfulness to the Lord honors Him by acknowledging all He has done.

Most of us would admit that our prayers are self-centered. We come with our requests, but how much time do we spend thanking God for what He has already accomplished? The psalmist in today’s reading advises us to begin and end each day by focusing on the Lord’s lovingkindness and faithfulness. Even if the past 24 hours brought pain or difficulty, we can still express appreciation for God’s presence as He carried us through.

This coming week, take time to remember what the Lord has done for you, and express your thanks. Be creative and try different ways to show gratefulness—sing, praise, and joyfully worship Him. When we keep the focus on God, His goodness can sustain us all day long.

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