November is the month of Thanksgiving, which provides a good opportunity to talk about gratitude. For the Christian, gratitude is created by the recognition of what God has done for us through Jesus Christ. This means that our sense of gratitude is directly tied to the faithful love of God, not our circumstances. So, the Christian can choose to be grateful no matter what is going on in his or her life.
As an example of this type of attitude, consider Psalm 118. It is a psalm of thanksgiving to God that arises out of the writer’s gratitude for the faithful love of God that endures forever and carries him through the ups and downs of life. As you read the words of that psalm, I pray that God’s Word will give you a reason to be thankful, and that your sense of gratitude will overflow into all of your relationships.
Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever.
Let Israel say: “His love endures forever.”
Let the house of Aaron say: “His love endures forever.”
Let those who fear the Lord say: “His love endures forever.”
In my anguish I cried to the Lord, and he answered by setting me free. The Lord is with me; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me? The Lord is with me; he is my helper. I will look in triumph on my enemies.
It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in man. It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in princes.
All the nations surrounded me, but in the name of the Lord I cut them off. They surrounded me on every side, but in the name of the Lord I cut them off. They swarmed around me like bees, but they died out as quickly as burning thorns; in the name of the Lord I cut them off.
I was pushed back and about to fall, but the Lord helped me. The Lord is my strength and my song; he has become my salvation.
Shouts of joy and victory resound in the tents of the righteous: “The Lord’s right hand has done mighty things! The Lord’s right hand is lifted high; the Lord’s right hand has done mighty things!”
I will not die but live, and will proclaim what the Lord has done. The Lord has chastened me severely, but he has not given me over to death. Open for me the gates of righteousness; I will enter and give thanks to the Lord. This is the gate of the Lord through which the righteous may enter. I will give thanks, for you answered me; you have become my salvation.
The stone the builders rejected has become the capstone; the Lord has done this, and it is marvelous in our eyes. This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.
O Lord, save us; O Lord, grant us success. Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. From the house of the Lord we bless you. The Lord is God, and he has made his light shine upon us. With boughs in hand, join in the festal procession up to the horns of the altar.
You are my God, and I will give you thanks; you are my God, and I will exalt you.
Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever.