Living a Life of Thanksgiving

As we have been reading throughout the Psalms in our Bible Reading Plan, we see one thing that is consistent. David, the author of many of hte Psalms, shows what it means to have a heart overflowing with thanksgiving to God. Despite facing battles, betrayal, and his own personal failures, David consistently turned to God with thanksgiving – leaving us a powerful legacy of gratitude towards God that we can learn from today.

David’s psalms of thanksgiving weren’t just happy songs written in good times. For example David wrote Psalm 34 after pretending to be insane to escape from his enemies. Even in that desperate situation, he said, “I will bless the Lord at all times; his praise shall continually be in my mouth.” This teaches us that gratitude isn’t dependent on our circumstances. It is a choice we make regardless of our situation.

In Psalm 103, David reminds himself not to forget all that God does. For example, he highlights God’s forgiveness, healing, and redemption. He modeled what intentional thanksgiving looks like. It is actively remembering and acknowledging God’s goodness rather than taking it for granted. When was the last time we paused to list out God’s specific blessings in our lives?

David also showed us that thanksgiving can exist while in sorrow and morning. In many of the psalms, he poured out his pain and confusion to God but still ended with praise. This teaches us that we don’t need to fake happiness to be thankful. We can be real with God about our struggles while still acknowledging His faithfulness.

Conclusion

So how can we follow David’s example today? Here are a few things you can do:

1. Make thanksgiving a daily habit, not just a seasonal practice. Try starting each day by naming three specific things you’re thankful for.
2. Keep a journal like David did through his psalms – write down how God has worked in your life.
3. Share your thanksgiving with others, just as David’s psalms were meant to be sung in community.

Remember, David wasn’t perfect – he was a flawed human just like us. But his legacy of gratitude shows us that a thankful heart draws us closer to God and helps us maintain perspective through life’s ups and downs. As David wrote in Psalm 9:1, “I will give thanks to the Lord with my whole heart; I will recount all of your wonderful deeds.” May we do the same.

If you would like to learn more about the Bible and start reading a Bible plan, you can here.