Give Thanks. Then Give Thanks Again.

Constantly brought to our attention are the Biblical commands to rejoice and give thanks. We see these particularly in the Psalms and in the writings of Paul. We often pray fervently for a particular request, which is good and right. Christ told us “you have not because you ask not.” Paul tells us to cast our cares on (Christ) because he cares for you. So when we are granted our requests, when God has graciously given us things we do not deserve, we should respond with excited thanksgiving. I often find, however, that I frequently spend weeks, months or even years praying for a particular request. I pray for a perceived need to be met; for a friend’s health; for an acquaintance’s salvation. God graciously grants the request, and I give thanks… for the next three days. It may not always be that drastic, but this pattern is not uncommon.

Consider if you were a father- which you may be- and your son made repeatedly requests for something that you decided was a good thing for him. When you gave it to him, he thanked you happily for it. Then he never mentioned it again. Would it not seem that his gratitude was somehow lacking? It makes me consider- God answers are prayers; he meets our needs so graciously; we should make a concerted effort to remember his provision over and over.

This idea wasn’t original with me. The Psalmist, in the 103^rd Psalm commands us: “Let all that I am praise the LORD; may I never forget the good things he does for me.” (vs 2, NLT) God had made this clear to Israel from the beginning: Israel celebrated the Passover, which was a time to give thanks and remember the LORD’s deliverance of their nation out of the land of Egypt. Asaph, in the 73^rd Psalm, begins by declaring: “Truly God is good to Israel, to those whose hearts are pure.” (NLT) How can we make such a statement unless we reflect and relive those answers to prayer and those blessings that God sends our way? The answer is obvious.

Let me challenge you to spend some time these next several days deliberately focused on praising God for past blessing. Contemplate to bring to your remembrance those things you desired and were granted by God. Remember those things and occurrences you never expected but were blessing that God sent your way. If we don’t rehearse, we tend to forget. Take care that we forget not our Lord’s benefits.