Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good. His love endures forever. Psalm 136:1
Children are often taught to be polite when they are given something. They are expected to say ‘thank you’ for the gift. Often they are expected to say the response even when they really don’t like the gift.
While parents teach this concept of being grateful for every gift, even the ones not liked, many do not follow their own rules. It is common to hear of adults complaining about what they are given, rather than accepting it and being thankful.
Things are accepted and thanked for when it is in line with what one wants and expects. If it is not really in line with one’s own expectations, there is seldom any gratefulness.
The writer of this psalm starts out with telling the people to give thanks to the Lord. He immediately gives two reason: He is good and His love is everlasting.
People are often upset with God for what He did or did not give them. If life is not going perfectly smooth, people feel that God does not love them and is not giving them a good life.
Over the years there have been many people who have walked away from God because He did not answer some certain prayer that they requested. It is common to hear of this with healing someone.
As they do this, they have forgotten how good God really is and how great His love is. God only gives what is best for the individual. This good is for eternal good, not just some temporary pleasure.
No matter what God gives or allows in the life of a person, it is not meant to harm or destroy a person. It is meant to build him up and draw him closer to Him. Thus a person should give thanks to God for everything.
Think of all the good things God has already given you, life, breath, food, clothing, forgiveness of sins, salvation and much more. There are a million more good things that you may be able to think of that God has given you out of His great love for you.
God is a good God and will only give you the best for you. Trust that God knows what He is doing. Trust in His great love for you.
Now take a moment to give thanks to God for what He has given and is giving you today.
I pray today that you will know God’s great love for you; that you will know what God has given you; that you will trust God’s love for you; and that you will see that God is good all the time.