OH, GIVE THANKS!

Oh, give thanks to the Lord, for He is good! For His mercy endures forever.

Psalms 11:1

David laments as he gave praises and continuously showing gratitude to God throughout scriptures. God shows His love for us in so many ways we ought to give thanks. When I was studying the human anatomy it was so bewildering how these bodily functions were even possible, how we are able to use our brain to process and have functional movement without batteries or some device creating these things. Our battery and device is God the chief creator and life source. There are so many things we can give thanks for that our praises should be continous. As I was learning and understanding scriptures I started googling words, I wanted a clear interpretation of words (I also read the Easy-to-Read version of the bible but always went back to New King James it keep me on track for the premise of the verse). Thanks means to show gratitude, appreciation or recognition. How do you show gratitude to a savior, who owns everything, He needs for nothing but loves attention. He loves to be admired and praised; you give Him what He desires. Sometime because we are frustrated we forget all He has done and is continuously doing for us (let everything that has breath praise the Lord) that is a reason there to give thanks! Understanding these words made such a big deal, when I understood that I am complimenting Him, applauding, celebrating, cheering God for sight, bodily movement, feeling, family and the list goes on and on. If giving thanks is hard or you are uncertain of what to say write out what you have and are able to do with out your power; that should be everything. With man all things are impossible but with God all things are possible (Matthew 19:26).

At my first awards ceremony and graduation that I can remember I recall hearing the sound of roaring shouts (it was thunderous) when the announcer called my name. It was just a small achievement but my neighbors, friends, parents, siblings and classmates screamed when I got my award that was such a exuberant feeling; everyone was there (well that's how I felt). That was an achievement that would benefit no one exept me but all these people celebrated with me (Romans 12:15 NKJV- Rejoice with those that rejoice and weep with those who weep). Rejoice is to be happy, cheer or to celebrate.

I often make jokes of me being on the praise team in heaven before I came on earth but I know that is impossible because I couldn't hold a tune if I had both hands on it but I love to sing. Praise is my easy pass into God; we all have a way that we connect to God quicker than others. Like reading scriptures or a scritpure is another way, you can read and get revelations without it feeling daunting as well as meditating and praying. For the sake of this topic singing praises is honoring God, that is satisfying to Him. If He feels in anyway that I felt that night after graduation anyone could get anything from me because I was so happy and felt so good. Praise and thanksgiving shifts our focus, it builds confidence in our Father, it opens a door of blessings. Have you ever felt like bad things keep happening? Do you remember during that same time how many good things happened? If you don't then it's probably because you were too focused on the problem and the to the problem solver.

Remember praise goes ahead and opens doors that may not have opened for us otherwise. Praise brings increase and praise shifts your focus. In all things give thanks!

#thankful #praise #thanksgiving #grateful

---