Thanksgiving Praise

It's been awhile since I managed to update my blog, but that does not mean God ceased working in my life!  And I am so grateful for HIS consistency - even when I'm not!

This morning I was reading in Psalms 50 out of the International Standard Version and a few verses really stood out to me.  This chapter is God speaking to the Israelites:

• "I will no longer accept a sacrificial bull from your household; nor goats from your pens.  Indeed, every animal of the forest is mine . . . " verses 9,10
• "Offer to God a thanksgiving praise; pay your vows to the Most High." verse 14
• "Whoever offers a sacrifice of thanksgiving glorifies me, and I will reveal the salvation of God to whomever continues in my way." Verse 23

When reading verse 9, I realized that I had always thought it was in the New Testament that the sacrificial offerings were discarded, but it sure sounds like He's doing away with them here.  The next verses that stood out to me remind me once again of the importance of gratitude. 

As I contemplated the idea of "a sacrifice of thanksgiving", I realized that in our humanness, it can indeed sometimes be a sacrifice to focus on gratitude.  It seems that in some circles, whining and complaining about life is the "in" thing to do and if instead I am focused on gratitude I don't necessarily fit in very well.  Sometimes the sacrifice is even more personal.  Some days I don't want to give up my own whining.  I want to wallow in it and feel justified for a bad attitude and bad behaviors. 

Father, forgive me!  I am indeed grateful for all you have done in my life and all you continue to do!  I realize that to whine and complain is to speak against your leadership and I am horrified at my foolishness.  Father, I AM grateful for your leadership - despite my foolish grumbling at times.  You are an amazing God and I've seen over and over again that You can be trusted to keep me on the right path and keep my foot from slipping. (Ps. 16:11 and 121:3 among others!)   When I do as you have guided me to do - even when I don't see how it can all work out - I get to watch you perform miracles in my life and I am so grateful!  Thank you that indeed "keep everything running right". (Ps 119:164)

I am reminded of an experience I had last weekend.  I had been kept pretty busy and was feeling pretty overwhelmed at all that needed to be done.  And yet, it was well past time for us to host another "game night" for family and friends.  I've been raised to believe you do your work FIRST, before you play, but God kept telling me "people come first".  So - instead of using that night to get more of my work done, I played games.  The next day as the weight of my deadline loomed, I had to keep reminding myself, "God is in charge and He knows what is best."  And He really came through for me.  He truly is able to make "time stand still" (Joshua 10:13, etc.), and to "make my paths straight" (Is. 42:16, etc).  I saw what looked to be detours turn into straight paths and things take 1/4 of the time they usually would as I was able to complete what needed to be done to meet my deadline!  God is amazing!

Father, you are indeed to be praised!  As the Psalmist says, "Great is our God and greatly to be praised"! (Ps. 48:1)  Thank you for your generous leading.  Thank you that you can be trusted to fulfill your promises and to lead us safely on our journey through life.  I am indeed grateful, Father! Thank you, thank you, thank you!