Giving Thanks Using the PsalmsNäide

Give thanks! God is merciful

“Bless the LORD, o my soul; and all that is within me, bless His holy name! Bless the LORD, o my soul, and forget not all His benefits’ (Psalm 103: 1-2 ESV).

Giving thanks and praise to God purposely, means acknowledging who He is in your life and what He means to you. We tend to thank and praise God especially, when we have received or experienced something from Him. The person who wrote Psalm 103 says to himself: 'Do not forget any of God's benefits.' Those benefits are:

Forgiveness and healing (vs 3).

Redemption and blessings (vs 4).

His works (vs 6-12).

His care as a Father to His children and those who fear Him (vs 13).

God’s knowledge and provision (vs 14-18).

His protection as our King (verses 15-19).

That is why the poet calls on the inhabitants of heaven and earth to join him in thanksgiving and praise to God (vs 20-22). Reminding yourself of who God is and what He does helps us to reclaim peace and security.

Recommendation: Do you not (always) manage to name what you can thank God for? Let David help you: read his list and thank God with those words.

Thanksgiving: Dear God, I thank You for Your mercy and for removing my sins from me, as far as the east is from the west. Thank You that Your words continue to give me strength. Today I thank You for ...