photo #6334811

"PRAISING GOD WITH A THANKFUL HEART." "O give thanks unto the LORD; call upon his name: make known his deeds among the people." (Psalm 105:1)Cultivating a thankful heart is the key to overcoming discouragement, grief, pain, and discontentment. If we develop the habit of counting our blessings then we, like Paul, can learn to be content, even joyful in the darkest of times and during the most difficult of circumstances.However, the Psalmist here reminds us that the greatest benefit of a grateful heart, and therefore the greatest motivation for having a thankful spirit, is not the blessing that it brings to us, but the witness it is to others.Now folks, you know as well as I do, that anyone can be happy and thankful when the sailing is smooth and everything in their life is hunky-dory and firing on all cylinders. Ah, but what a testimony it is when God’s people are rejoicing amid the ruins of their temporary treasures, or their loss of earthly pleasures are experienced!But when those days come, and they will, when our flag of faith is blowing in the wrong direction, or we can't even fit that square peg in the square hole, being of a thankful spirit seems to allude us. When a child of God is musing about the wreckage of shattered dreams, persecution by family and friends, or in constant pain, mustering up reasons to praise their Lord is nigh unto impossible, Yet, during those tough times just mentioned, it is an unparalleled proof of the Power of Christ in them to transform His children from their spirit of persistent grumbling to one of praise-filled gratitude.Then as they carry on with joy, they publicly call upon His name, making His deeds known among the masses, and the gratefulness of God’s children redounds to the glory of God’s redemptive grace. In his letter to the saints there at Thessalonica, Paul wrote, "And ye became followers of us, and of the Lord, having received the word in much affliction, with joy of the Holy Ghost:" (1:6)We are nowhere more able to shine for Christ than when we are in the darkness of our heartaches and losses. In that moment we have the greatest potential to fulfill the grandest purpose for our lives, and that being, to exalt the name of our Saviour, the Lord Jesus.So, friends, no matter what your current circumstances may be, just lift those holy hands with praise, and give thanks to the Lord, calling on the name of Jesus and looking to Him as the One who strengthens you to do all things for Christ. For He will provide your needs with His all-sufficient grace. Then with your feet shod with the preparation of the Gospel of peace, go and make known His goodness and enduring mercy to those whom you cross paths with today.