Welcome to another day the Lord has made that we should rejoice and be glad in. (Psalms 118:24)

Last week we previewed why we should give thanks, which is because we’re appreciative. This week we’ll dig into the main course of giving thanks.

Let’s begin with thanking God for what He’s done!

Today’s scripture, Psalms 66:5 (NLT) declares…
[5] Come and see what our God has done, what awesome miracles he performs for people!

Consider…
I hear an old Baptist preacher saying…

• Has the Lord done anything for you?
• Has He put food on your table?
• Has He put running in your feet?
• Did He wake you up this morning?

Speaking of waking you up this morning, I remember hearing Lee Williams (live), singing…

You didn’t have to wake me soon this morning but you
Did lord
You didn’t have to wake me soon this morning but you
Did lord
You didn’t have to wake me early this morning but you
Did lord
I’m glad about it
You didn’t have to wake me soon this morning but you
Did lord
That ain’t all you done

You woke me up early this morning
Lord, you was right on time
I had my health and strength
And closed in my right mind

You didn’t have to wake mе this morning (Repeat)

These simple words remind us that God didn’t have to do anything for us, but He did!

It’s important that we never forget what the LORD has done for us.

In fact, Psalms 103:2 (NLT) raises the bar and says…
[2] Let all that I am praise the Lord; may I never forget the good things he does for me.

Writing this I hear Carlton Pierce singing…

Jesus I’ll never forget, what you’ve done for me
Jesus I’ll never forget, how you set me free
Jesus I’ll never forget, how you brought me out
Jesus I’ll never forget, nooo nev-er

Well, how can I forget, what you’ve done for me
Well now, how can I forget, how you set me free
Well, how can I forget, how you brought me out
How can I forget, nooo ne-ver

He’s done so much for me, I can not tell it all
I can not tell it all, I can not tell it all
He’s done so much for me and I can not tell it all
He has taken all my sins away

I imagine Jesus smiling when He hears that song. Especially when I read Luke 17:12-18 (NLT), which says…
[12] As he entered a village there, ten men with leprosy stood at a distance, [13] crying out, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!” [14] He looked at them and said, “Go show yourselves to the priests.” And as they went, they were cleansed of their leprosy. [15] One of them, when he saw that he was healed, came back to Jesus, shouting, “Praise God!” [16] He fell to the ground at Jesus’ feet, thanking him for what he had done. This man was a Samaritan. [17] Jesus asked, “Didn’t I heal ten men? Where are the other nine? [18] Has no one returned to give glory to God except this foreigner?”

Of course, this pressed next on my playlist to Kurt Carr who said…

I wrote a song for the thankful believers those who have the testimonies that you have been through too much to forget to tell God thank you. tell somebody I am the one that came back to say thank you.

I am the one
I am the one
I am the one that came back to say thank You Lord
For all that You’ve done
I’m grateful for everything You’ve done
I had to come back
My heart made me run back
And tell You thank you
Thank you, thank you
I had to come back
My heart made me run back
And tell You thank you

I wonder, are you one of the thankful believers that Maestro Carr wrote the song for?

Every now and again, it’s good to pause and take inventory of all that God has done for you, and tell Him thank you.

Perhaps, more inspiration from Kurt Carr can help you gratefully walk down memory lane of God’s goodness…

I’ve got so much to thank God for
So many wonderful blessings
And so many open doors
A brand new mercy
Along with each new day
That’s why I praise You
And for this I give You praise

For waking me up this morning
That’s why I praise You
For sending me on my way
That’s why I praise You
For letting me see the sunshine
Of a brand new day
A brand new mercy
Along with each new day
That’s why I praise You and for this
I give You praise

You’re Jehovah Jhireh
That’s why I praise You
You’ve been my Provider
That’s why I praise You
So many times YouÂ’ve met my need
So many times You rescued me
That’s why I praise You
I want to thank You for the blessing
You give to me each day
That’s why I praise You
For this I give You praise

For every mountain You brought me over
For every trial you’ve seen me through
For every blessing
Hallelujah, for this I give You praise

Has God brought you through anything? Have you thanked Him?

Perhaps, one of my favorite songs that I sang in the church choir back in Minnesota will stir thankfulness in your spirit. Eddie James’ lyrics say…

As I look back over my life
I can see how Your love has guided me
Even though I’ve done wrong
You never left me alone
But You forgave me
And You kept on blessing
This I recall to my mind, therefore I have hope
It’s because of Your mercy that we are not consumed
Because Thy compassions fail not, they are new every morning
Great is Thy faithfulness
Great is Thy faithfulness…

You’ve been
Lord, You’ve been so faithful
(Even though sometimes I didn’t do what You wanted me to do)
You’ve been
Lord, You’ve been so faithful

I can never repay You, Lord, for what You done for me
How You loosed my shackles and You set me free
How You made a way out of no way
Turned my darkness into day
You’ve been my joy in the time of sorrow
Hope for my tomorrow
Peace in the time of storm
Strength when I’m weak and worn

You’ve been
Lord, You’ve been so faithful
(Even though sometimes I didn’t do what You wanted me to do)
You’ve been
Lord, You’ve been so faithful

Now you may read this post and think, all I did was list lyrics to a bunch of songs, and you’re correct. But it’s in obedience to Ephesians 5:18-20 (NLT) which instructs…
[18] Don’t be drunk with wine, because that will ruin your life. Instead, be filled with the Holy Spirit,
[19] singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs among yourselves, and making music to the Lord in your hearts. [20] And give thanks for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Notice the Apostle Paul tells us to…

• Be filled with the Holy Spirit
• Sing with each other
• Make music to the Lord in our Hearts

I didn’t want to bullet point verse 20 because it warrants deeper appreciation.

Notice, the Holy Spirit inspired Paul to use the conjunction AND, which according to one of the definitions I found means an action or an instance of two or more events or things occurring at the same point in time or space.

That means we should have a song in our hearts for God while thanking Him for everything that He’s done!

A wonderful song by Todd Galberth expresses the response we should have when remembering what God has done. The lyrics say…

When I think of all You’ve done
And all the battles You brought me over, hallelujah
How He never let me fall
Now unto Him who is able, hallelujah
Let there never be a day that I don’t rise to bring You praise, hallelujah

Hallelujah
Hallelujah
Hallelujah
Hallelujah
Hallelujah
Hallelujah
Hallelujah
Hallelujah
Hallelujah

Be praised
Be praised
Be praised
Be praised
Be praised
Be praised
Forever and always

The Holy Spirit just showed me that Ephesians 5:18-20 is one of God’s lyrics sheets for praise. Perhaps a definition of praise could include melodically thanking God!

As I shared that epiphany, the Holy Spirit showed me that Ephesians 5:18-20 is also the contemporary version of Psalm 100:1-5 (KJV), which says…
[1] Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all ye lands. [2] Serve the LORD with gladness: Come before his presence with singing. [3] Know ye that the LORD he is God: It is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; We are his people, and the sheep of his pasture. [4] Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, And into his courts with praise: Be thankful unto him, and bless his name. [5] For the LORD is good; his mercy is everlasting; And his truth endureth to all generations.

That tells regardless of testament or music genre, God wants us to melodiously and harmoniously thank Him for all that He’s done.

These thoughts are flooding my mind with songs about why we should thank God for what He’s done. Like another song from Psalmist Galberth says…

Come on, sing
Lord You are good
You’ve been so good (You’ve been so good)
I don’t know why You do it God (Lord You are good)
You’ve been better than good
I can’t praise You enough
I owe You my life (I owe You my life)
I can’t praise You enough (can’t praise You enough)
Even If I tried

(‘Cause You’ve been) so good
(So good) You’ve been (You’ve been), so good (so good) somebody raise up your voice tonight

So many doors (so many doors You’ve opened)
So many ways (so many ways You’ve made)
So many times (so many times You’ve healed me)
So many doors (so many doors You’ve opened)
So many ways (so many ways You’ve made)
So many times (so many times You’ve healed me)
You’ve been better than good to me (You’ve been better than good to me)

Hopefully one or more of the lyrics shared inspired what Ricky Dillard sang…

I’ve got an attitude,
of gratitude,
I am so grateful for the things that You’ve done
I’ve got an attitude,
of gratitude,
I am so grateful for the victories You’ve won

When I think about,
what You’ve done for me
How You saved my soul,
died on Calvary
I’m grateful,
I’m grateful,
I’m grateful to—— You Lord!

When you think about the Lord and all that He’s done, sing with others to Him with an attitude of gratitude.

What song(s) express your gratitude to God? Sing them from your heart for others to hear and join in. When you do, it’s music to God’s ears 🎶

Here’s one that we can join with Walter Hawkins in singing, “Thank You Lord for all You’ve done for me!”

Bonus thought from the Holy Spirit to all my fellow praisers, make sure whenever you get your praise on that it includes thanking God for everything!

Today’s Song is…
Thank You

Blessings 4HG (1 Corinthians 10:31)