Six times the inspired Psalmist wrote these very words – “Praise ye Jehovah. Oh give thanks unto Jehovah; for he is good; for his lovingkindness endureth forever” (Psalm 106:1; 107:1; 118:1,29; 136:1,3).
Elsewhere he encouraged those around him to “give thanks unto Jehovah, call upon his name; make known among the peoples his doings” (Psalm 105:1) and “sing praise unto Jehovah…and give thanks to his holy memorial name” (Psalm 30:4).
In the New Testament God’s spokesmen said to “in everything give thanks” (1 Thessalonians 5:18) and “we give thee thanks, O Lord God, the Almighty, who are and who wast; because thou hast taken thy great power, and didst reign” (Revelation 11:17).
Scattered before and between all of these passages are many, many more that demonstrate the same reality – our lives should be consumed with one abiding emotion more so than any other and that is gratitude.
But gratitude is much more than an expression we occasionally use in prayer, it’s more than a sincere face we assume while sitting in a church building, it’s more than just an automatic reply we offer to others because we were taught good manners, and it is far more than a general demeanor we put on the fourth Thursday of every November.
Gratitude is a way of life, a governing principle, and an abiding attitude that guides every decision we make, every conversation we have, and everything we do.
“As therefore ye received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him, rooted and builded up in him, and established in your faith, even as ye were taught, abounding in thanksgiving” (Colossians 2:6-7).
-Andy