I will give thanks to you, Lord, with all my heart; I will tell of all your wonderful deeds. I will be glad and rejoice in you; I will sing the praises of your name, O Most High. Psalms 9:1-2 NIV
David wrote many songs about his relationship with God. In some, he was angry, others repentant, some sad, in others joyful. What they all have in common is his unreserved, unabashed emotion. He held nothing back, putting it all on the line with honesty. His belief in God as a personal friend continues to sing to us from the pages. In today's verses, he pours out his pure, unadulterated thanks. Listen to the word choices; "all my heart,” "glad and rejoice,” "sing praises.” What a beautifully joyful song of thanksgiving.
Today, we observe the holiday we call Thanksgiving. For many of us, the days preceding and this morning will be spent preparing a meal that will be consumed in minutes. Don't get me wrong. I love this holiday—it's a beautiful time spent with friends and family, filled with funny remembrances and laughter. But, like Christmas, it is often easy to lose the day’s true meaning amid the preparation; except for the perfunctory prayer at the beginning of the meal, it is easy for our thanks to get lost among the parades, football games, and food.
For many, this Thanksgiving will be different; we have new additions to our tables, and some who’ve blessed us with their presence are no longer with us. We thank God for the joy from those babies and new friends, the lives of those who have passed, and the precious memories.
Like David, we should express our sincere and honest gratitude to God for all his goodness, showering him with our unbridled praise for the earthly bounty he provides. As we look around our table today, we thank God for those who are gathered, friends and family, for our homes, heat, running water, and food. But more importantly, we thank God for the salvation in Jesus Christ and the gifts of the Holy Spirit.
Heavenly Father, we give you thanks from the deepest place in our hearts and rejoice in your amazing grace. Often, we forget even a simple thank you. Please forgive us. We acknowledge all that we have are your gifts. Help us not to be bashful or ashamed to share the message of your grace and our thanks with others. In Christ Jesus, we pray. Amen.
Happy Thanksgiving!
Pastor Tim
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