THANKFUL WITH ALL MY HEART

November 16, 2023

I give You thanks with all my heart; before the gods I sing Your praises. I bow down toward Your holy temple and give thanks to Your name for Your loving devotion and Your faithfulness; You have exalted Your name and Your word above all else.

Psalm 138:1-2 (BSB)

Psalm 138:1-2 There is nothing half-hearted about David’s thanks. All his powers are employed in blessing Jehovah. And there is nothing timid or private about his worship. He sings unashamedly before the gods, that is, before the kings of the earth. The word “gods” here could also mean angels or idols, but the context seems to limit it to the surrounding rulers.

MacDonald, William, Believer’s Bible Commentary, note on Psalm 138:1-2.

When David says I will give God thanks “with all my heart,” it literally means with every molecule of his being, every ounce of who he is—mind, will, and emotions. How often do we pause to give thanks to God intentionally and intensely? We “ask the blessing” before we eat and thank God for our food. We toss up a thank you when prayer is answered. But do we make time to reflect on our blessings and the way God sustains us and wholeheartedly engage in a prayer of thanksgiving? We challenged ourselves and you to do just that in response to Psalm 136. We wrote “Our Great Praise” yesterday, and the Lord brought much joy to our hearts as we reflected on our journey together as friends who have truly become sisters and as Precious Jewels Ministries, Inc. The personal “psalm” we wrote lists only the highlights of the relationship God has created between us, but counting those blessings and thanking Him for them renewed our resolve to serve Him wholeheartedly.

If you haven’t taken the time to write your own “great praise” psalm, please consider doing it. It’s a beautiful experience of expressing your gratitude to our loving Creator, Father, Savior, and Lord.

Father, we thank You for inspiring us to write a psalm in the pattern of Psalm 136. Thank You for letting it flow through us with such ease. Remind us to consistently thank You and share with others the marvelous things You have done in our lives.

Enjoy singing “Give Thanks” with CeCe Winans: