What are you thankful for?” It is the standard question that we ask children each
Thanksgiving. Tiny hands are traced to represent the shape of a turkey. The
pencil marks around each finger make a turkey “feather,” each one complete with
the name of an item for which the child is thankful.
Have you searched your heart to let God know what YOU are thankful for? We
should not wait for a special day on the calendar to express our gratitude to God.
Rather, praise should be a regular, continual act. Each moment offers new
opportunities to thank and extol Him. Praise should be the continual attitude of
the heart for believers.
As we look to God’s word, we can find numerous encouragements to offer praise
to the Lord. We ought not to simply think praises to God in our heads. We should
use words from our mouths to declare His praise. Let us tell Him that we are
grateful!
I will sing of the Lord’s great love forever; with my mouth I will make your
faithfulness known through all generations. I will declare that your love stands
firm forever, that you have established your faithfulness in heaven itself.
Psalm 89:1-2
Through him then let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is,
the fruit of lips that acknowledge his name.
Hebrews 13:15
His love stands forever. God’s faithfulness was already set in place before He
created the world. Not only can we thank God with our voices, but we can also
praise Him with music.
Oh come, let us sing to the Lord; let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our
salvation! Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving; let us make a joyful
noise to him with songs of praise! For the Lord is a great God, and a great King
above all gods.
Psalm 95:1-3
The psalmist says that his heart leaps for joy in praise (Psalm 28:7). Ours should
do the same! We can praise God for forgiveness and His mercies that are new
each day (Lamentations 3:22-24). Praise Him for His unfailing love (Psalm 107:8-
9).
We can praise God for His good gifts, which are countless (James 1:17)!
Through the overflow of our blessings from the Lord, we have the blessing of
showing God’s love to others. This Thanksgiving, and continually each day, may
we lift our voices in praise.