From birth I have relied on you; you brought me forth from my mother’s womb. I will ever praise you.
In today’s scripture, the psalmist encourages us to praise God continually. Once we seriously start praising Him, our burdens and our troubles seem to weigh less heavily on us. This is part of the power of being thankful. As we give thanks to God for what’s good in our lives, it helps us not to focus excessively on our problems. I believe God wants us to be grateful people, filled with gratitude not only toward God, but also toward others.
When someone does something nice for you, let that person know you appreciate them and what they did. Have you ever thanked the people who pick up your trash? The last time you ate at a restaurant, did you thank the server for filling your coffee cup? I could go on and on, but that’s my point: We need to develop an attitude of gratitude toward the people in our lives. Another way to express gratitude is to show appreciation toward your family members, especially your spouse. I appreciate Dave, and even though we’ve been married a long time, I still tell him I appreciate him. He’s patient with me, and he is thoughtful.
Just a few words of thanks are a great way to bless God and others. When you express appreciation, it’s good for the other person to hear it, but remember that it also releases joy in you. You enrich both your life and another person’s life when you show gratitude for anything, big or small.
Prayer of the Day: Lord, I desire a thankful and praise-filled heart. Holy Spirit, I ask You to remind me every day of what I need to be grateful for.
