Text: Psalm 136:1-4
Memory verse:
”Remember His marvelous works which He has done, His wonders, and the judgments of His mouth,“
Psalms 105:5 NKJV
It takes a mentally sound mind to acknowledge God’s manifold benefits and to thank Him (Psa 92:6).
In fact, ungrateful people are cut off from life’s realities and are dead while they are living. ”Let everything that has breath praise the Lord…“ (Psa 150:6).
“The dead don’t thank you, and choirs don’t sing praises from the morgue. Those buried six feet under don’t witness to your faithful ways.
It’s the living – live men, live women – who thank you, just as I’m doing right now….” (Isa 38:18-19 MSG).
We need to be reminded that life is not a right but a privilege. We are only alive because God chose to show us mercy. “”Through the Lord’s mercies, we are not consumed, ….“ (Lam 3:22).
“… “I will show mercy to anyone I choose, and I will show compassion to anyone I choose.” (Rom 9:15 NLT)
Another reason why you should intentionally thank God and honour Him is that ingratitude will cause your blessings to be exchanged for curses. Gratitude sustains blessings. “If you refuse to obediently listen, and if you refuse to honor me, God-of-the-Angel-Armies, in worship, then I’ll put you under a curse. I’ll exchange all your blessings for curses. In fact, the curses are already at work because you’re not serious about honoring me.” (Mal 2:2 MSG).
Beware of taking God’s mercies for granted or of forgetting your source. Beware of taking thanksgiving as a light thing. If you opened your mouth to pray that God would spare your life and your loved ones and He did, then it is dishonouring to Him to return with casual or quiet thanks. Learn from the one leper who returned with a loud voice to glorify Jesus after being healed (Luke 17: 15). Whatever is not appreciated is usually lost. It doesn’t cost God anything to reverse the blessings (1 Sam 2:30, 15:23; Hag 1:9).
Friends, don’t look at the size of your blessings nor compare it with others. If God hadn’t given you anything, you would have nothing because you have no power to create any blessing (John 3:27). And, no one is qualified for big things who doesn’t thank God for small things or for bigger things who doesn’t thank Him for big things. Now, whatever condition you are right now, raise up your voice to thank the Almighty God for causing you to see the first day of another month and the last half of the year.
Praise points
1. Father, thank You for qualifying me for Your mercy and for preserving my life and my loved ones to see today. Be glorified in Jesus’ name.
2. Father, thank You for answered prayers, for what You started to do in my life in the first half of the year, and the great things You will do in the last half. Be honoured, in Jesus’ name.
Today’s declarations
1. I don’t take God’s mercies for granted, knowing that life is not a right but a privilege.
2. I don’t cry to God for deliverance and then return to thank Him with a studio voice.
Contact: pastor@thf.org.ng