Thanks and Praise

“Bless the LORD, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless his holy name!” 

Psalm 103:1

It’s that time of year again! Once November hits, I can’t help but feel the weight of the holidays pressing in upon me. The numbers on the calendar begin to pass with lightening speed and only seem to accelerate as the holidays draw closer. Of course, the world of retail has been way ahead of the game having jump started the fall and winter holidays long before we were ready to pack away our beach towels or shake the sand out of our shoes. It’s nearly impossible to avoid the encroachment of commercialism with all the competing displays assaulting our senses. Everything from familiar jingles ringing through the airwaves, festive foods, enticing aromas and sparkling lights, to attractive presentations donning the newest and trendiest “must-have” fashions or exhibiting the latest and greatest electronic gadgets, all enticing us to buy what we simply cannot live without!

In the midst of this yearly barrage of hustle and bustle, I have frequently tried to cut back, slow down, simplify and be intentional about spending these holidays in ways that are enriching, enjoyable, stress-free and truly meaningful. This is no easy task! Some years have met with greater success than others. I have finally figured out that the key seems to be “start early enough in the process of establishing what’s most important” before getting sucked into the “doing and going” vortex of no return.

So, this is my early start! I don’t want to wait till Thanksgiving Day explodes with activity… the early morning outreach, food preparations at home, phone calls from friends and family and guests arriving to enjoy food, fellowship and fun… before I start thinking of what it’s really all about. I’d like to be intentional and give thought to what I want to thank and praise God for way ahead of time so my heart can rehearse these thoughts regularly before Thanksgiving Day is here. So … I’m starting early.

Join me in being preemptive in praise and thanksgiving to our great God.

Praising God/Christ for Who He is

•       “Who among the gods is like you, O LORD? Who is like you -- majestic in holiness, awesome in power, working wonders (Ex. 15:11) NIV
•      "The LORD, the LORD, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness.” (Ex. 34:6) NIV
•       “He is the Rock, his works are perfect, and all his ways are just. A faithful God who does no wrong, upright and just is he.” (Deut. 32:4) NIV
•      “But you, O LORD, are a shield about me, my glory and the lifter of my head.” (Ps. 3:3) ESV
•      “God is our refuge and strength, a very preset help in trouble.” (Ps. 46:1) ESV
•      “For God is the King of all the earth; sing to him a psalm of praise. God reigns over the nations; God is seated on his holy throne.” (Ps. 47:7-8)
•      “Know that the LORD, he is God! It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.” (Ps. 100:3) ESV
•      “The LORD is gracious and righteous; our God is full of compassion.” (Ps. 116:5)
•      “Great is our LORD and mighty in power; his understanding has no limit.” (Ps. 147:5) NIV
•      “The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He does not faint or grow weary; His understanding is unsearchable.” (Is. 40:28)
•     “Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways!” (Rom. 11:33) ESV
•     “To the King of ages, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.” (1 Tim. 1:17) ESV
•      “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.” (Heb. 13:8) ESV
•      “I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is and was and who is to come, the Almighty.” (Rev.1:8) ESV

Thanking Him For What He’s Done/Continues to Do In Christ

•      “The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.” (Lam.3:22) ESV
•      Jesus answered him, “If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him.” (Jn. 14:23) ESV
•      “[we] are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.” (Rom. 3:24) NIV
•      “For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father! The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God.” (Rom. 8:15-16) ESV
•      “Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us.” (Rom. 8:34) ESV
•      “God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.” (2 Cor. 5:21) NIV
•      “In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit” (Eph. 1:13) ESV
•      “For through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father.” (Eph. 2:18) ESV
•      “For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.” (Col. 1:13-14) NIV
•       “According to his great mercy He has caused us to be born again to a living hope … to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading…” (1 Pt. 1:3-4) ESV
•      “His divine power has granted us all things that pertain to life and godliness …he has granted us his precious and very great promises…” (2 Pt. 1:3-4) ESV
•      “See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!” (1 Jn.3:1) NIV

Thanking Him for His Promises

•     “So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” (Is. 41:10) ESV
•      “When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze. For I am the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior;” (Is. 43:2-3a) ESV
•      “The LORD is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.” (Ps. 34:18)
•      “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.” (Jn. 3:16) ESV
•      “Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life.” (Jn. 5:24) ESV
•      “Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus,” (Rom. 8:1) NIV
•      “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.” (2 Cor. 5:17) ESV
•      “But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness. Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.” (2 Cor. 12:9-10) ESV
•      “I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.” (Gal. 2:20) ESV
•      “Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.” (Heb. 4:16) ESV
•      “… for he has said, I will never leave you nor forsake you.”  (Heb. 13:5) ESV

This is by no means exhaustive but it’s a start. As you meditate on these passages, let your heart soar in worship as you are reminded of who God is, of what He’s done for you through Christ and for His precious promises that can lead you to hope … long before the holidays arrive.