(Psalms 9:1-2) To the choirmaster: according to Muth-labben.
A Psalm of David. I will give thanks to the LORD with my whole heart; I will
recount all of your wonderful deeds. I will be glad and exult in you; I will
sing praise to your name, O Most High.
(Hebrews 13:15) Through him then let us continually offer up
a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that acknowledge his
name.
When David says my whole
heart he means his entire being; what he feels, what he doesn't feel,
what he thinks, what he says, what he does, and the choices he makes. He means
that he will give thanks to the Lord even when he does not feel thankful. He
will be joyful and happy at all times, not because of his circumstances but
because of the wonderful things that the Lord has done. This is possible by
continually meditating upon and speaking about the Lord's wonderful works.
In the Hebrews passage, continually is translated from the
Greek word dia (G1223) which literally means the channel or vehicle of an act.
The Lord intends for you to be a vessel of praise to Him meaning that you are
not to just offer praise but you are to become the actual praise yourself. This
indicates that every fiber of your being is to be praise to Him. Remember that
thankfulness is and expression, not a feeling. You can (and should) express
thankfulness through appropriate thoughts, words, and deeds, even when you do
not feel thankful. Both of these verses indicate that you are to worship the
Lord with all of your being all of the time. That leaves absolutely no time,
place, or circumstance in which you are free to not be focused on the Lord and worshiping
Him.
Express thankfulness to the Lord today by thinking, speaking,
and acting according to His Word. Think less of your own circumstances and more
of the Lord's steadfast love and faithfulness to you.
Questions For Discussion
Do you ever not feel thankful for the things the Lord has
given you and done for you?
How can you express thankfulness when you do not feel
thankful?
What is the difference between being thankful and being the
thankfulness itself?
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