Learning Thanksgiving

I love Psalm 100. As a call to worship, a personal study time, or a devotional song, this Psalm guides our hearts to see God and respond with thanksgiving and gratitude. The Psalm itself tells us that this song is about teaching us to be thankful. The psalmist invites us to enter the presence of God with singing and praise. He leads us to see that God is our Creator. The breath we draw in each moment, the physical shape of our bodies are all made at His direction. We are sheep under His watchful care. The psalmist then moves us to notice the character of God. He is good. He showers us with His steadfast love. A love that is not fleeting, but a decision that spans generations and touches the hearts of people over the course of years and lifetimes. When we see our great God in all of His majesty and understand that he does not stand apart, but enters our lives in love, the psalmist expects that we will be moved to give our hearts to Him in gratitude. And I believe the psalmist has it right. When we realize that God pursues us, we catch a glimpse of the love He has for us. We can be thankful that He walks with us in our days, guides us through life, and transforms our moments.