“Give thanks to the Lord, because he is good; his love is eternal! Repeat these words in praise to the Lord, all you whom he has saved.” (Psalm 107:1-2a Good News Translation)
A family sets down for dinner. The matriarch of the house asks everyone to bow their heads so that she may bless the food. She starts out by saying, “We thank you Lord,” and as she continues to pray, she hears one of the children at the table playing on a hand-held game. She pauses, looks at the child, instructs the child to join the other family members in the blessing before the meal. After blessing the food, the matriarch excuses herself from the table and tells the child that was caught playing when praying was going on to come with her. They go into another room, remote from the dining area. She asks the child quietly, “What is your problem, playing when you should be praying?” The child responds, “Look at us! Look at the food we are about to eat! Think about our hard times! What do we have to be thankful for?” Thank God for that child for love is patient and that the matriarch was blessed with a high level of patience, such that many heads of household lack. Now notice I said patience, and not tolerance as to suggest she accepted wrongdoings or sinful behavior. Instead of touching the child with a stoke of discipline, she strikes the child with a selected scripture, taken from the verse above.
She says, “Give thanks to the Lord because He is good!” She tells the child to hold up both hands and make two fists. Oh a battle is not about to begin, but a belief is about to be highlighted. She tells the child, “Every time that I say something that you have experienced, hold up one of your fingers.” She says, “You woke up this morning.” The child holds up one finger. Next, she says, “You slept peacefully, undisturbed by intruders last night.” The child holds up another finger. The matriarch continues, “Your family was safe.” The child holds up a third finger. The statements continue and every time, following the statements, the child holds up another finger. “You have a roof over your head.” “You have the activity of your limbs.” “You have a reasonable portion of health and strength.” “Your hand-held game that you were blessed to have purchased was still beside your bed.” “You found clean clothes to put on.” “You had food on your table.” The child has ten fingers held up in the face of the matriarch. That does not stop the matriarch. “You have concerned friends and a caring family.” The child says, “I don’t have any more fingers to hold up!” The matriarch says, “I hope you get the lesson. You do have something to thank God for. As a matter of fact, it is like my mother used to say, ‘You can’t thank Him enough.’” The child starts to walk away, heading back to the dinner table. The matriarch realizes that you learn by doing, so she tells the child, “We are not done yet. It is your turn to pray and give thanks to the Lord.” The child complies and once the child starts, it seems like there would be no end to the prayer. Eventually, the child says, “In Jesus’ name, amen.”
Now let’s get to you. Did you thank the Lord this morning for all His blessings? Did you thank Him for His grace and mercy? Did you thank Him for delivering you from your enemies? Did you thank Him for rescuing you from temptation, giving you a way out? Did you thank Him for allowing you to see another day? Did you thank Him for providing you with food when you were hungry and water when you were thirsty? Did you thank Him for His wise guidance during the time that you were wandering? Did you thank Him for the hope He gave you when you were hopeless? Did you thank Him when He saved you from your troubles and delivered you from your distress? Did you thank Him for every time He forgave you and gave you another chance to get it right? Did you thank Him when He removed some of the barriers to your life and restored your joy? Did you thank Him for His healings; physical healings, spiritual healings, and relationship healings? Did you thank Him for all the wonderful things He has done in your lifetime? Well, if you didn’t, let me be like the matriarch and tell you, “We are not done yet.” You need to pray and give thanks to the Lord. For the Psalmist is indeed right, “The Lord is Good!” A shout of praise goes right here! Hallelujah! Glory to God! Praise you Lord! Have a great day! Be blessed!
“Thank God! He deserves your thanks. His love never quits. Thank the God of all gods, His love never quits. Thank the Lord of all lords. His love never quits.” (Psalm 136:1-3 The Message Bible)
Still committed to the climb,
Mark L. King