Let the whole earth shout triumphantly to the Lord! Serve the Lord with gladness; come before him with joyful songs. Psalm 100:1-2
Principles of Thanksgiving
Taking a quick look about it might be easy to see the world as becoming ungrateful and in a bad mood all the time. Words like please and thank you seem to be heard less and less. However, it is not just the world at large that has become thankless...how about you and me? Is Thanksgiving just a holiday, or the way we live our lives?
The psalmist speaks of the principles of thanksgiving. Principles are eternal and therefore they never change with the culture or circumstances we might happen to find ourselves in. Regardless, God’s principles are to rule our voice and the way we live our lives before Him and others.
Joyfully Thankful ... Let the whole earth shout triumphantly …
To make a joyful shout is more than yelling loudly or screaming. The emphasis is on what we are shouting about. The psalmist is speaking of making an open-air confession of God’s goodness and grace. In fact, the Hebrew word means "an extension of the hand." It is as if the psalmist is saying to cup the hand to the mouth and speak out loud a very joyful confession to the Lord. It could also reflect the lifting of the hands in praise to God. A joyful shout can bring a joyful spirit.
Serving with Thankfulness ... Serve the Lord with gladness…
When our lives are governed by a joyful heart that speaks words of thanksgiving to the Lord, our lives will naturally fall in line to become servants filled with glad works. Worshipful service is the natural response of the heart and life of a believer filled with God’s love.
Coming in Thankfulness ... Come before him with joyful songs …
As believers of God, we are to come into His presence with our hearts filled with the joy and gladness of knowing Him. We are to come singing with joyful voices of praise and thanksgiving.
Shouting, serving and singing out of a heart of thankfulness brings joy to the heart of the Father. The key is that whatever we do, we do it from a heart turned toward Him.
Are you living a life of thanksgiving, pointing others to Jesus?
Are you serving him with a joyful heart?
Are you giving thanks to him and praising him today and every day?
