Give Thanks To God

Bible Reading: Psalm 118

“Oh give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; for his steadfast love endures forever!” (Psalm 118:1)

Here are two questions. First, how often do we give thanks to God? Second, what do we give thanks to God for? 

It is easy for us to go on day to day and take God’s blessings for granted. Yes, God’s blessings in our lives are beyond our comprehension. Yet, we fail to grasp at them, and thus we fail to give thanks. God deserves our eternal praise and worship. What He has accomplished for us should bring us awestruck to our knees with both tears of repentance and joy. However, how often we give thanks to God will only be measured by how much we know what God has done. 

When we are forced to give thanks to God at church or in some prayer meeting, many will give thanks for the good weather, a peaceful country, friends, and family. To be sure, these things are incredible and undeserved blessings from God which demand our thanks. Yet, what can drive us to have a heart that overflows with continual thankfulness? 

Only a heart that knows that God is behind these blessings will be able to praise God continually. In Psalm 118, the psalmist repeats this one phrase about God repeatedly — “His steadfast love endures forever”. What can we unpack from this one phrase? There could be pages on pages written about this one phrase but let us just focus on this — our God who chose to love us out of his own volition before the creation of the world will continue to love us forever. 

What is this love? It is shown throughout the whole Bible narrative. This loves culminates on the cross where Christ died for our sins, enabling us to have new lives in Him. This love promised a saviour from the moment after the fall. This love was faithful to Abraham, Jacob and Israel. God guided His people to the Promised Land. When they were exiled, God kept a remnant. From the line of David, Jesus was really born. 

In the New Testament, after Jesus left, He sent the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit led the apostles the spread the gospel despite persecution. The church prevailed despite many trying to destroy it. Then, all throughout history, God has protected His church through many reformations. The church still exists today, and God used the church to call us today to believe in Him. God’s plan for our salvation started from the beginning of time. God led all the events of history so that you and I could hear the gospel message. What is God’s, steadfast love? 

Because God is steadfast, we ought to praise Him continually. We ought to give thanks and put our trust in Him. In thanksgiving may we profess, “It is better to take refuge in the LORD than to trust in man” (Psalm 118:8). 

Lord, thank You for Your steadfast love. Thank You that You have loved us from before the creation of the world. We trust that You who are faithful will continue to be faithful in the future according to Your promise. Help us trust in You. May You become our refuge. Please teach us to praise and give thanks to You forever continually. In Jesus’ name, amen.