Word for the day by Christian Education Forum
Youth: Search for a meaningful life
Psalms 111
In Psalms 111 we see the psalmist declaring that he praises God, and he wants all of God’s creatures to give praise as well. He begins by giving an example of praise, in which he says (v1)“I will give thanks to the Lord with my whole heart”. The question posed to us, is when is the last time we gave thanks to the Lord with our whole heart. Do we dedicate time in our lives to give thanks on a daily basis? As Thanksgiving fast approaches, I hope we are not a people that reserve thanks for one day of our lives. The Psalmist explains that he can only praise due to being thankful to God. We might want to do things for God or bring our concerns or those of our fellow brothers and sisters before God, but many times we don’t just sit in wholehearted thankfulness. Personally, I am quick to bring my prayer concerns before God but slow to bring my thanks.
We need to go deeper into what the psalmist meant by whole heart. We might consider that thought of thanksgiving would suffice, but in ancient times they didn’t separate the body. When they speak of heart or mind, they mean your whole being. It’s not just a thought of thankfulness but it was a state of being. Not just speaking words of thanksgiving and praise but living out life with a heart of gratitude to the creator by the created. This type of praise changes us and changes others that we interact with. When we are younger, we are told to say please and thank you, which is done to build a habit, but real gratitude shouldn’t be an unconscious habit. If you ever experienced gracious help from another, the only thing you can do is be overwhelmed. You want to help them back, but there is nothing you can do. Your whole body wants to somehow show your gratitude, and that is wholehearted thankfulness, which results in praise.
The Psalmist continues to describe why he is thankful, so as a reader you can understand why he is thankful. If you are struggling today with different problems in life, be it health concerns, financial problems, relationship issues, etc. understand there is one thing we can all be thankful for, which the Psalmist Highlights in vs. 9. “He sent redemption to his people; he has commanded his covenant forever”. Regardless of your circumstances here on this earth, there is something the Psalmist is calling out. That God is faithful to his covenant. He redeems His people. We know the invisible became visible when Jesus Christ lived, died, and was resurrected for all of humanity. When you experience that grace, it is something to be thankful for, not just words of praise, but a life lived in response to praise and thanksgiving.
We need to go deeper into what the psalmist meant by whole heart. We might consider that thought of thanksgiving would suffice, but in ancient times they didn’t separate the body. When they speak of heart or mind, they mean your whole being. It’s not just a thought of thankfulness but it was a state of being. Not just speaking words of thanksgiving and praise but living out life with a heart of gratitude to the creator by the created. This type of praise changes us and changes others that we interact with. When we are younger, we are told to say please and thank you, which is done to build a habit, but real gratitude shouldn’t be an unconscious habit. If you ever experienced gracious help from another, the only thing you can do is be overwhelmed. You want to help them back, but there is nothing you can do. Your whole body wants to somehow show your gratitude, and that is wholehearted thankfulness, which results in praise.
The Psalmist continues to describe why he is thankful, so as a reader you can understand why he is thankful. If you are struggling today with different problems in life, be it health concerns, financial problems, relationship issues, etc. understand there is one thing we can all be thankful for, which the Psalmist Highlights in vs. 9. “He sent redemption to his people; he has commanded his covenant forever”. Regardless of your circumstances here on this earth, there is something the Psalmist is calling out. That God is faithful to his covenant. He redeems His people. We know the invisible became visible when Jesus Christ lived, died, and was resurrected for all of humanity. When you experience that grace, it is something to be thankful for, not just words of praise, but a life lived in response to praise and thanksgiving.
Prayer
Praise the Lord oh my soul, praise be to the Lord the rock of my salvation. Forgive me Lord for the times of my ungratefulness. Forgive me for my lack of praise. Lord, I praise you because, despite my shortcomings, your covenant lasts forever. Because of your grace, I am forever in your presence, let me always Praise You.
Thought of the day
What shall I return to the Lord for all his goodness to me? – Psalms 116:12
Shibu Mathew – Epiphany MTC
Praise the Lord oh my soul, praise be to the Lord the rock of my salvation. Forgive me Lord for the times of my ungratefulness. Forgive me for my lack of praise. Lord, I praise you because, despite my shortcomings, your covenant lasts forever. Because of your grace, I am forever in your presence, let me always Praise You.
Thought of the day
What shall I return to the Lord for all his goodness to me? – Psalms 116:12
Shibu Mathew – Epiphany MTC