“Let all that I am praise the Lord; with my whole heart, I will praise his holy name. Let all that I am praise the Lord; may I never forget the good things he does for me. He forgives all my sins and heals all my diseases. He redeems me from death and crowns me with love and tender mercies. He fills my life with good things.” Psalm 103:1-4
Heavenly Father, I cannot think of a more needed and powerful form of spiritual warfare than gratitude and praise. You sent a band of worshippers into battle against three of Israel’s waring enemies—the “Moabites, Ammonites, and Meunites” (2 Chronicles 20). The enemies of our heart-peace are not as obvious, but just as lethal.
When we indulge a spirit of entitlement, comparison, judgmentalism, envy, fear, and ungratefulness, we’re simply giving a band of joy-assassins and attitude-poisoners free reign in our hearts.
So, on this October Saturday, we take up King David’s revolutionary song of thankfulness and praise, and make it ours. Easily, in our most gospel-sane moments, we know the things for which we can be/should be grateful outnumber our whine-worthy, heart-vexing items 10 to 1 if not 100 to 1.
Hallelujah, for complete forgiveness, the gift of Jesus’ righteousness, adoption as your beloved children, the Spirit of Sonship, and citizenship in heaven. Father, if we just remember and stay alive to these 5 of so many “good things” you’ve given us, surely, we’ll be able to trust you, wait upon you, abandon ourselves to you for everything else—even the most overwhelming ones. So very thankful, and Amen, in Jesus’ name.