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A Season for Humble Gratitude

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By Pastor Chuck Swindoll

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Sometimes it can be a challenge to give God daily praise, even when we possess the knowledge of His love and faithfulness. If you find yourself in this situation, the Psalms are often a great source to get you back on track.

Psalm 116 is an extraordinary expression of love—addressed to God. “How do I love Thee, God?”

It reminds me of Browning’s poem: “Let me count the ways.” In counting the ways, the psalmist sets forth several magnificent truths about God’s goodness and deliverance.

I love the Lord because he hears my voice
and my prayer for mercy.

Because he bends down to listen,
I will pray as long as I have breath!

Death wrapped its ropes around me;
the terrors of the grave overtook me.
I saw only trouble and sorrow.

Then I called on the name of the Lord:
“Please, Lord, save me!”

How kind the Lord is! How good he is!
So merciful, this God of ours!

The Lord protects those of childlike faith;
I was facing death, and he saved me.

Let my soul be at rest again,
for the Lord has been good to me. (Psalm 116:1–7 NLT)

How do we love our God? We love Him by counting the many ways He has been good to us and, as the psalmist did, by sharing His goodness with others.

What does God desire? Our humble thanks. Our heartfelt gratitude. He wants us to be hungry for life, to treasure every day He entrusts to us.

When you have a quiet moment, read Psalm 116 in its entirety, and pause several times to express your own heart of gratitude to our loving Lord.

Let the wonder of God wash over you again. God loves you and me with every bit of His heart, to the extent that He gave us the very best gift—life in the form of His one and only Son.

It’s this life—the abundant life—that Jesus promised.

Let’s be humbly grateful.

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