“Oh give thanks to the Lord; call upon his name;
make known his deeds among the peoples!
Sing to him, sing praises to him;
tell of all his wondrous works!
Glory in his holy name;
let the hearts of those who seek the Lord rejoice!
Seek the Lord and his strength;
seek his presence continually!
Remember the wondrous works that he has done,
his miracles and the judgments he uttered!..
Sing to the Lord, all the earth!
Tell of his salvation from day to day.
Declare his glory among the nations,
his marvelous works among all the peoples!
For great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised,
and he is to be feared above all gods…
Splendor and majesty are before him;
strength and joy are in his place.
Ascribe to the Lord, O families of the peoples,
ascribe to the Lord glory and strength!
Ascribe to the Lord the glory due his name;
bring an offering and come before him!
Worship the Lord in the splendor of holiness;
tremble before him, all the earth…
Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice,
and let them say among the nations, ‘The Lord reigns!’
Let the sea roar, and all that fills it;
let the field exult, and everything in it!
Then shall the trees of the forest sing for joy
before the Lord, for he comes to judge the earth.
Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good;
for his steadfast love endures forever!..
Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel,
from everlasting to everlasting!
Then all the people said, ‘Amen!’ and praised the Lord.” 1 Chronicles 16:8-12,23-25,27-34,36
David’s paean of praise ignites the contented, joy-filled soul. Thanksgiving can and should be all consuming, the uplifting fire that fuels our every thought and action. It begins with Godward thinking, intentional looking for Him and His hand in every detail. To seek Him is to call on Him, search for Him, discover His wondrous works, and ascribe to Him due glory. As we come to know Him, we spontaneously tremble before His splendor, majesty, glory, strength, joy, and praiseworthy deeds. In recognizing Him everywhere in heavens and earth and hearts, we cannot help but sing for joy along with all He has made.
A natural rhythm of thanksgiving will influence others. How are we leading the charge in places of community and industry, neighborhood or informal gatherings, to give thanks? Expressing gratitude can disarm the pessimist and whiner. Changing the subject from catty gossip, complaining, constant griping over leaders, neighbors, and circumstances to that of the good, lofty, and praiseworthy can transform the atmosphere. Where will we invite others to join a melody of gratitude? (1 Chronicles 16:1-7)
Such a spirit of gratitude will leave behind a fragrance that lingers long after we are gone. How might we infect others to keep on in continual praise at home, work, and places of ministry? Where might we sprinkle a song that reminds someone of God’s kindness and care so they carry on its happy contagion? (1 Chronicles 16:37-43)
Would we begin and continue our days praising God? Joyful obsession with the glory of His name invigorates a life of spontaneous thanksgiving and song.
Most gracious Lord, I give You thanks and praise and the honor You deserve. Keep me seeking and marveling at Your wondrous works, and spreading the gladness of Your glory in the atmosphere of my life.
As the rain and snow 