Thanking God

There’s a familiar praise song we often sing that simply expresses thanks to God for all he has done for us. Think about the words of this song:

“Thank you, Lord, for loving me, and thank you, Lord, for blessing me. Thank you, Lord, for making me whole and saving my soul. Let us all with one accord sing praises to Christ the Lord. Let us all unite in song to praise him all day long. Please reveal your will to me so I can serve you for eternity. Use my life in every way, take hold of it today. Thank you, Lord, for loving me. Thank you, Lord, for saving my soul.”

This song helps us as we seek to praise God for his mighty work in our lives. It is not just through strengthening and equipping us for service that God blesses us, he gives us reconciliation, redemption, and restoration through the sacrifice of Christ. Because of Christ's selfless act, we have hope. Because of God's love, we have peace. We have so much for which to be thankful.

On Monday and Tuesday of this week I had the privilege of meeting with 75 preachers from across Texas and Oklahoma. We were blessed to sit at the feet of men who have given most of their lives in service to God and his Church. As I sat listening to these powerful lessons from God’s Word, I couldn’t help but be overwhelmed by thankfulness for the opportunities God has afforded us. I listened as men shared their experiences in ministry, told stories of their respective congregations and the people who made them up, and recounted moments of difficulty through which God helped them.

As Christians, we know that this world is not perfect. We know that we are not perfect. We know that Satan is real and out to destroy our faith in God. As Christians, we know that obstacles and hurdles in life are inevitable. But we also know that God is a great and powerful God who loves us more than we can possible imagine. God's might is beyond our comprehension. And what an awesome blessing that God is not aloof. Even though he is infinitely greater than us, he is equally concerned for us. The Bible says, "Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you" (1 Peter 5:6-7). What a wonderful thought. The God who created the universe cares for us! Oh, how much we have for which to be thankful!

We know that God is able and willing to meet all our needs according to his power that is at work within us. Paul wrote, “Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen” (Ephesians 3:20-21). This is a statement of thanks and praise to God for his infinite power and care for us.

As Paul was drawing his first letter to the Christians in Corinth to a close, he wrote,

"...thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ" (1 Corinthians 15:57).

So, we thank God for loving us and saving us. We ought always to praise God and Christ. And we must be willing for God to use us in every way. Let’s be people who seek to praise and honor God in every aspect of our lives. Let’s always remember to say, “Thank you, Lord!”