Scripture Reading(s)
Psalm 118:1-2, 19-29
118:1 O give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his steadfast love endures forever!
118:2 Let Israel say, “His steadfast love endures forever.”
118:19 Open to me the gates of righteousness, that I may enter through them and give thanks to the LORD.
118:20 This is the gate of the LORD; the righteous shall enter through it.
118:21 I thank you that you have answered me and have become my salvation.
118:22 The stone that the builders rejected has become the chief cornerstone.
118:23 This is the Lord’s doing; it is marvelous in our eyes.
118:24 This is the day that the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.
118:25 Save us, we beseech you, O LORD! O LORD, we beseech you, give us success!
118:26 Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the LORD. We bless you from the house of the LORD.
118:27 The LORD is God, and he has given us light. Bind the festal procession with branches, up to the horns of the altar.
118:28 You are my God, and I will give thanks to you; you are my God, I will extol you.
118:29 O give thanks to the LORD, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever
Reflections
When I was a child, I was taught that it is always so important to say “thank you”. Whether it was to my parents, my teachers, my friends, or even strangers, saying thank you was something that was engraved in my head because it helped teach me how to show appreciation for what I have and for what others have done for me.
Here we see the Psalmist thanking and praising God for many things that He has done. His heart was overwhelmed at how far God’s Grace has gone to bless him. Sometimes thinking about all the ways that God has blessed you can lead to a greater desire to genuinely thank God more daily.
I love how the Psalmist first and last reason for praising God is because of His love for us. Out of all the attributes that God holds, love is the reason that drives Him to bless us and meet our needs. That same love should also be the driving force that fuels us to thank and worship Him for all that He’s done.