Monday, November 27, 2023

 

From Gratitude to Thanksgiving

November 27

My tongue will proclaim your righteousness, your praises all day long.

Psalm 35:28

Worship at Trinity Assembly is always sweet, and today was no exception. God had been given permission to move, and He was taking full advantage of the attitude of worship. With voices united in praise the congregation’s anthem rose. And in a moment orchestrated by the Holy Spirit, God overflowed through one of the worship team…

“There is liberty in Jesus, yes liberty! There is freedom in Jesus, yes freedom!” The praise emanating from Dwight was otherworldly, pure, almost surreal. He quite literally sang to God the music of his soul. Birthed in the depths of his spirit, his soul was given wings through his voice. It resonated throughout the sanctuary, and was infectious! The entire congregation enjoined his praises! “Thank You, Jesus! Thank You, Jesus! Thank You, Jesus, for setting us free!”

Dwight sang communal praises to the King as each person’s voice added to the harmony, “Ohhh, we bless You, Lord! We bless You, Jesus!” In one moment of perfect unity their praises were ushered into the presence of the Lord. Amens and hallelujahs reverberated throughout the sanctuary. The song continued, their unconstrained thanksgiving rising to meet the Father’s approval. Yes, worship at Trinity Assembly was sweet.

We sometimes live vicariously through others, grateful they have given perfect pitch to our off-key singing; or in those moments they’ve given voice to our unspoken thoughts. There is nothing wrong with experiencing joy and closeness to God through the gifts and gratitude of others…as long as we don’t let it end there.

In one of his sermons, Dr. David Jeremiah said, “I doubt there is anyone here who doesn’t have a spirit of gratitude. But gratitude is not thanksgiving until it is expressed.”

To leave unuttered praise in our hearts is like appreciating a wonderful meal without sending our compliments to the Chef, because we think he already knows he’s a good cook, right?

Recognizing God’s blessing in our lives is only half the matter. For if we fail to utter praises for the things God has done we will eventually find ourselves fostering a spirit of entitlement.

God is worthy of our praise, praise He should hear from our lips.

Prayer

“May the gratitude of my heart never go unuttered, Lord Jesus, because You alone are worthy of my praise! Amen.”

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