I considered the other day, that Autumn culminates in the celebration we call “Thanksgiving.” As soon as the first leaves begin to reveal their autumn beauty, our minds turn towards thoughts of gratitude. While many of us keep gratitude journals, our focus intensifies as November approaches. Various methods for “counting your blessings” abound on social media and beyond. Offering thanks for our blessings is commendable and right, but what would thankfulness expressed in adoration look like?
As children, we learned saying “thank you” for anything we received or anything done for us was expected. The art of writing Thank -you notes seems lost in our digital age, but I taught my children that grace and still practice it myself. As such, for most, thanking God for His abundant blessings and all He does for us comes natural. Though we might all admit the need for more gratitude towards God. While studying through the Psalms by genre, I realized an aspect of gratitude I missed. Perhaps the most important aspect of all; thankfulness expressed in adoration of God Himself.
Thankfulness for gifts received
Most everyone is familiar with Ann Voskamp’s book, “One Thousand Gifts”, truly a masterpiece of encouragement to acknowledge everyday graces. A wonderful journey with Ann discovering the transforming power of gratitude. All starting with keeping a simple list of blessings each day. The premise reinforces the tagline “A Dare to Live Fully Right Where You Are.” I found the book both delightful and challenging, compiling my own list of one thousand gifts. The practice heightened my awareness of God’s blessings in my life. And as any good neuroscientist will tell you, you find what you look for. The more things you express gratitude for, the more you will find.
However, over time, it felt more like a “Where’s Waldo” game, pressure every day to list “things” to fill a sheet of paper. Admittedly, I should fill reams of paper every day with God’s goodness to me, still, something was missing. I am not diminishing Ann Voskamp’s work nor challenging the premise of the book. I found it personally transformative, and share it with others often. Speaking of my own realization, I thanked God for comforts and good things, kindness of others and even some hard things. But in all this I praised God more for His gifts; exalting creation over the Creator.
perspective of praise
In studying the Psalms of praise, I found the primary goal of the psalmist expressed in thankfulness through adoration. These psalms give us language of praise and gratitude for God’s great attributes, extolling Him as Creator and Redeemer. Encouraging enjoyment and delight in God Himself. The Westminster Shorter Catechism states, “The chief end of man is to glorify God and enjoy Him forever.” (Psalm 86:9, Isaiah 60:21, Romans 11:36, I Corinthians 6:20, I Corinthians 10:31, Revelation 4:11).
When we praise God not only for what He’s done for us, but for Who He Is, we glorify Him and show our enjoyment in Him. God blesses us with good things because of His intrinsic goodness. He delights in our gratitude for His good things, but He created us for relationship with Him. Delighting in Him increases our intimacy with Him and fulfills our purpose to proclaim His majesty, glory and grace to others.
Thankfulness expressed in adoration
Of the many praise psalms in the Bible, Psalm 145 presents an extraordinary example of thankfulness expressed in adoration. You cannot read this psalm without seeing David’s gratitude for and awe of God. Interestingly, the Webster’s 1828 dictionary defines “praise” as “The expression of gratitude for personal favors conferred; a glorifying or extolling.” Psalm 145 does a magnificent job of illustrating the intermingling of expressing gratitude to God for His works and His infinite attributes. I marked the times David praised God for His attributes or implied attributes with orange. I marked the times David praised God for His deeds in red.
Psalm 145
I will extol you, my God and King,
and bless your name forever and ever.
2 Every day I will bless you
and praise your name forever and ever.
3 Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised,
and his greatness is unsearchable.
4 One generation shall commend your works to another,
and shall declare your mighty acts.
5 On the glorious splendor of your majesty,
and on your wondrous works, I will meditate.
6 They shall speak of the might of your awesome deeds,
and I will declare your greatness.
7 They shall pour forth the fame of your abundant goodness
and shall sing aloud of your righteousness.
8 The Lord is gracious and merciful,
slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.
9 The Lord is good to all,
and his mercy is over all that he has made.
10 All your works shall give thanks to you, O Lord,
and all your saints shall bless you!
11 They shall speak of the glory of your kingdom
and tell of your power,
12 to make known to the children of man your mighty deeds,
and the glorious splendor of your kingdom.
13 Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom,
and your dominion endures throughout all generations.
The Lord is faithful in all his words
and kind in all his works.
14 The Lord upholds all who are falling (Deliverer)
and raises up all who are bowed down. (Deliverer)
15 The eyes of all look to you,
and you give them their food in due season.
16 You open your hand; (generosity)
you satisfy the desire of every living thing.
17 The Lord is righteous in all his ways
and kind in all his works.
18 The Lord is near to all who call on him,
to all who call on him in truth.
19 He fulfills the desire of those who fear him;
he also hears their cry and saves them. (Deliverer)
20 The Lord preserves all who love him,
but all the wicked he will destroy.
21 My mouth will speak the praise of the Lord,
and let all flesh bless his holy name forever and ever.
Transforming thankfulness
As I studied this psalm I found 38 instances where David offers gratitude to God for His attributes. Contrasted with 9 times he expresses gratitude for God’s deeds. This led me to note the following attributes either directly mentioned or implied. Sovereignty, attentiveness, compassionate, faithful, generous, eternal, glorious, good, holy, incomprehensible, infinite, unchanging, just, righteous, loving, merciful, almighty, omniscient, omnipresent, patient, truthful, wise, worthy, transcendent, creator, deliverer, and provider.
Offering God thankfulness expressed in adoration transforms any situation. Even when discouraged or irritable, expressing gratitude to God for who He is, takes my focus off of me, my problems and even my needs. Thanking God in this way floods my heart with joy and hope while ushering me into the intimate presence of God. There is no God like our God; dwelling on the magnificence of His infinite attributes puts everything into perspective.
“Whom have I in heaven but you? And there is nothing on earth that I desire besides you.” Psalm 73:25
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Feature Image Photo by Greg Rakozy on Unsplash
Donna, I’ve been pondering gratitude and praise and how often you see both throughout the psalms. I see that here in your post too. When our hearts are grateful, we often end up in a place of praising our Father.
I hope you have a wonderful Thanksgiving!
Jeanne, isn’t that the truth, gratitude naturally leads to praise! Wishing you a blessed Thanksgiving!
Nicely written; complaining focuses inward, gratitude focuses outward and opens the door to another perspective. If only I could remember that daily.
Thank you Aletha for stopping by! I appreciate your kind words of encouragement! I definite struggle too with expressing gratitude as I should! May we both grow together!