How to give thanks
The Old Testament recounts numerous moments where God provided for His people. But one powerful retelling of God’s greatness is found in Psalm 105. This Psalm focuses on events found in the book of Exodus, and worshipers were encouraged to remember God’s faithfulness and show gratitude for what He has done. And while all 45 verses are worth studying, let’s take a closer look at the verse that sets the tone for Psalm, and the four ways it invites us into worship…
“Give thanks to the Lord and proclaim His greatness. Let the whole world know what He has done.”
Psalm 105:1 ESV
Reflect on what God has done for you
Gratitude comes from recognizing what God has done for us. So in order to show gratitude, we have to recognize how God was at work in our past circumstances. When we do that, we can acknowledge God’s faithfulness and genuinely worship Him.
Thank God
In Psalm 105:1, the term “giving thanks” stems from the Hebrew word yadah which means, “to revere or worship.” To revere someone, you have to respect who they are. Giving thanks is an ongoing act of worship that involves recognizing who God is and offering up gratitude to Him for all that He’s done.
Praise God
The expression that’s often translated as “call upon His name” was often used in corporate worship to encourage people to seek the Lord.
God’s name carries authority and power and is above all other names, and we proclaim God’s greatness when we call on His great name. When we call on God’s name, we gain a greater understanding of who He is—and this can encourage us to praise Him even more.
Tell everyone
God wants everyone to know Him personally, and we get to help people find Him when we proclaim His greatness. As people discover what God has done for us, it can inspire them to seek God for themselves and discover His love for them.
We were made to worship God, and one of the ways we do that is by recounting His wonderful works. So today, intentionally set aside time to reflect on God’s faithfulness. And then—tell other people about His great works. Who knows? Your praise just might inspire others to worship God as well.
“I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called, with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love, endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.”
Ephesians 4:1-6 NKJV
https://bible.com/bible/114/eph.4.1-6.NKJV
“Moreover the word of the LORD came unto me, saying, Also, thou son of man, thus saith the Lord GOD unto the land of Israel; An end, the end is come upon the four corners of the land. Now is the end come upon thee, and I will send mine anger upon thee, and will judge thee according to thy ways, and will recompense upon thee all thine abominations. And mine eye shall not spare thee, neither will I have pity: but I will recompense thy ways upon thee, and thine abominations shall be in the midst of thee: and ye shall know that I am the LORD. Thus saith the Lord GOD; An evil, an only evil, behold, is come. An end is come, the end is come: it watcheth for thee; behold, it is come. The morning is come unto thee, O thou that dwellest in the land: the time is come, the day of trouble is near, and not the sounding again of the mountains. Now will I shortly pour out my fury upon thee, and accomplish mine anger upon thee: and I will judge thee according to thy ways, and will recompense thee for ...