By Pastor Dr. Aggrey Soyekwo
Psalm 103:1-2 "Praise the Lord, O my soul; all my inmost being, praise his holy name. Praise the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits—…"
This is a psalm of gratitude. An attitude of praise and thanksgiving makes us look at the good things God has done. Honestly, there is much God has done and continues to do in everyone’s life. This is to all who believe or not. Many are not thankful because they have their own expectations of what they want God to do. When it doesn’t happen as they wish, it appears as if God has failed them.
A thankful attitude should be deliberate. You choose to tell your soul to praise. As you do, you remember what He has done, the benefits of salvation out of His goodness. God expects to praise and worship Him. After healing ten lepers, Jesus was surprised that only one came back to give thanks. Like them, few of us come back to Him to give thanks out of many good things He has done. It is usually easier to focus on what’s not going right than the good.
Thanksgiving glorifies God, makes us not forget what He does, encourages our faith, creates hope, establishes us in the faith and enables us find peace and rest for our souls only in God. It keeps fear, uncertainty and anger away. It gives assurance to our souls, that it is well, despite any present challenges. Purposefully be thankful to God. Bless the Lord O my soul!
Luke 17:17-18 "Jesus asked, “Were not all ten cleansed? Where are the other nine? Has no one returned to give praise to God except this foreigner?”
Shalom children of God.