IT’S GOOD TO GIVE THANKS

It is good

to give thanks to the LORD,

to sing praises to the Most High.

It is good

to proclaim your unfailing love

in the morning,

your faithfulness in the evening.

Psalm 92:1-2 NLT

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As December is associated with Christmas, so November automatically brings Thanksgiving to mind. To be thankful doesn’t take much of an effort when everything is going our way, but when hard times come it becomes more of a challenge.

Whether our situation in life makes it easy or difficult to give thanks, it is always good to give thanks to the LORD because everything our Lord allows to come our way is always for our good. To give thanks for His gifts makes them all the more precious to us. Not to be thankful for His provision reveals a proud and presumptuous heart which looks at His blessings as something deserved. That kind of attitude leads to grumbling and complaining when things don’t go our way, and that’s not good.

 Relationships are strengthened where mutual gratitude is shown. When we express thanks to others, it lifts our spirits and the spirits of those whom we thank. It is good to give thanks.

Studies at the U of California at Davis as well as other studies find overwhelming evidence that gratitude has a profound positive effect on peoples’ lives. “Gratitude journals” – in which people make a daily list of things they are thankful for – have become a popular practice and have proven even helpful for people to come out of depression. It is good to give thanks.

Now if it is a good thing to thank each other and to think about things we are grateful for - how much better and how much greater the benefits if our thanks are also directed to the LORD. . . Most High! Thanking and praising God throughout the day for His unfailing love and faithfulness needs to be our goal. He wants us to continually PRACTICE AN ATTITUDE OF GRATITUDE. In 1 Thessalonians 5:18 Paul writes “Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.” It is good to give thanks to the LORD!