1Chronicles 16:1-36, vs., “8 Oh, give thanks to the LORD! Call upon His name; Make known His deeds among the peoples!”
A musician penned these words in a song, “we take a lot of things for granted, one day it all be taken away, that’s when you realize how important it was. You will never miss your water until your well runs dry, give thanks and praise all the time”. In other words, we take many things that are vital in our lives for granted, we sense their impact when they are affected and they affect us. I was just imagining a life of 16 year old girl I visited sometime back with a brain injury when she fell. She had been lying on her hospital bed for months without responding hearing or touch. This was an interrupted life due an injury to which I wondered how many of us went through that stage with no major, just minor or no injuries? Then I got to thinking about something I have been doing for some time now, recognizing what God has done in my life both small and big and having set a day each week not to ask but to thank Him.
What are you thankful for and who do you thank? When was the last time you thanked God for the air you breath, the freedom of worship, your hands, legs, ability to think, ability to smell, ability to taste, your internal organs, the roof over your head, food on the table, family members, protection from accidents and incidents etc. Everyone has something to be thankful for and if you don’t think you do, just take a trip to one of the hospitals.
The verse above tells of how David was thankful to God for many things. Before this, he tried to bring the Ark of the Covenant back home from the Philistines who had captured it in the days of Eli the priest. And because the Ark was not handled properly (God’s way) as David was bringing it back home, God killed Uzzah. David therefore stationed the Ark in the house of Obed-Edom while he went to seek God on how to handle the Ark. Upon learning and handling it properly, David had every reason to give thanks to the Lord the reason he wrote this psalm, vs., “8 Oh, give thanks to the LORD! Call upon His name; Make known His deeds among the peoples!”. Thanksgiving is about making God’s name great and making known His deeds among the people. It is very important, the question is, do you have a thanksgiving to bring to make His name great and make known His deeds among His people? Psalm 100:4, “Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name”
I love messages in the hymns and one that is appropriate for this season is “Count your blessings”, lyrics “ Vs. 1. When upon life’s billows you are tempest-tossed, When you are discouraged, thinking all is lost, Count your many blessings, name them one by one, And it will surprise you what the Lord hath done. Chorus: Count your blessings, name them one by one, Count your blessings, see what God hath done! Count your blessings, name them one by one, Count your many blessings, see what God hath done. Vs. 2. Are you ever burdened with a load of care? Does the cross seem heavy you are called to bear? Count your many blessings, every doubt will fly, And you will keep singing as the days go by. Vs. 3. When you look at others with their lands and gold, Think that Christ has promised you His wealth untold; Count your many blessings—wealth can never buy Your reward in heaven, nor your home on high. Vs. 4. So, amid the conflict whether great or small, Do not be discouraged, God is over all; Count your many blessings, angels will attend, Help and comfort give you to your journey’s end”.
Forget what the Lord has not done yet, start counting your blessings one by one and you will be amazed at what God has done. And for each blessing, give thanks to the Lord. Thanks be to God, Ev
He Has Magnified His Word 