“Essential Prayers: Thanks” - Psalm 95: 1-6 Devo

January 14th, 2018

Devotional 

“Essential Prayers: Thanks” - Psalm 95: 1-6

Keep the sermon topic and Biblical text preaching all week by following Pastor Michelle on twitter @tinypastor and reading her sermon blog www.revmichelle.blogspot.com

Monday: “Sing for Joy” - Psalm 95: 1

I think many of us have heard the statement to “give thanks in all circumstances”, but what does that really mean? At times it seems hard for us to be thankful - perhaps when facing a difficult diagnosis or troubling circumstances at work or at home. What does it look like to be thankful at all times and in all places.

The psalmist gives us a clue today in the admonishment to sing for joy. Joy is different than happiness. Joy is based off of our inner landscape, our soul’s relationship to God. Happiness is often based off of external circumstances - what is going on around us. Therefore, in instructing us to sing with joy, I believe the Psalmist is instructing us to go deep within ourselves and thank God, not for our external circumstances, but for the very ability our soul has to be in relationship with the Divine. When we are deeply rooted in that type of joy, it is easier to be thankful in all circumstances. 

What are some differences between happiness and joy in your own life? Do you find yourself relying on one more than the other?

How are joy and thanksgiving connected? 

Prayer: Loving God, we take time today to simply say thank you. Lord, often we thank you for the things going around us - which is certainly appropriate for you are in all and through all. But Lord, we thank you today for simply being Lord of our Lives. For being our most important relationship. For being our Savior. Thank you, Precious Lord, for who you are. Amen. 

Tuesday: “Extol Him” - Psalm 95: 2

When you look up the word ‘extol’ in the dictionary you find something like this. Verb. To highly praise; laud; eulogize. What can we learn from such a definition. First, extol is something that we do. Its an action. Second, it is an action of lifting someone up - giving them praise. So what does this mean in our relationship with God?

Often we say in worship that God is worthy of all of our honor, glory, and praise. And those words are foundational true in our faith life. But I have to wonder if we live our daily lives as if God is worthy of all our honor, glory, and praise. Take time to think about your prayer life - do you spend time in prayer extolling God or is that praise usually absent in your communication with God? Do you tell others about what a Mighty God you serve, or do you keep your faith life private? 

Thanksgiving and extolling go hand in hand. Both involve praise in action. Let us live out lives this week, and always, in a way the lift God’s name on high. 

Do you extol God in prayer? Why or why not? 

Write down a time that you praise God for - any time in your life. Have you shared this story with others? Why or why not?

Prayer:  Lord, we want to be people who extol you - who bless your mighty name. But we confess Lord, that sometimes we get so caught up in our own lives, that we do not widen the scope of our vision to praise you and give you thank. Lord, forgive us for the times that we have only asked for things and have not blessed you. For the times we have complained more than we have extolled. In Jesus’s mighty name we pray. Amen. 

Wednesday: “The Lord is the Great God” - Psalm 95: 3

There are certain words in the English language that seem to get tossed around a lot. Words such as love. We may say that we love ice cream, when what we really mean is that we like ice cream. Or we say that someone or something is great, when what we may mean good. When we default to choosing such words they seem to lose some of their power when we encounter them in scriptures such as this one today.

But God truly is great. No one and no thing has more power than God. No one and no thing has more love than God. No one or no thing has more compassion, mercy, and grace than God. The list goes on and on. There is truly none that compare to God, and that alone should lead us into a state of praise. A state where we can say thank you to God. 

I grew up with parents who were big on us writing thank yous. Its a life lesson that I carry on to this very day. When I receive a gift, before I take off all of the plastic wrapping or start to use it, I write a thank you, expressing my gratitude. What if we did the same thing with God? What if our first reaction to God’s good gifts for us was to say thank you? To state with all certainty in our hearts that God is great? How could such intentionality change our lives and the lives of those around us? 

How often do you find yourself thanking God?

In what ways is God great?

Prayer: Lord, we proclaim today, with all we are and with all that we have that you are the greatest. You are above all earthly rules. Above all that life may bring our way. Receive our adoration, Lord, as a sign of thanksgiving. Amen. 

Thursday: “Belong to Him” - Psalm 95: 4-5

In Western culture we have a strong since of ownership. Who owns what? Is that yours or is it mine?  But sometimes we can get so caught up in the Western concept of ownership, that we gloss right over the Christian concept of ownership. For we believe, as Christians, that we actually do not own anything. Instead, it is all God’s which has been entrusted to us as stewards. 

The Psalmist clearly states this spiritual value around ownership today as he invites to remember that God made all and all truly belongs to God. He imagined it into being. His hands crafted it out of the depths.

When we get so caught up in the Western concept of ownership it can be hard for us to be thankful at times. We start to function out of a mindset of scarcity instead of a mindset of abundance. But when we shift our perspective to see that all we have is actually God’s which we are watching over, we can be filled once again with thankfulness for what God has blessed us with. 

Do you find yourself functioning more often out a mindset of scarcity or a mindset of abundance? Why?

Prayer: Lord, help us to reclaim the central truth to our spiritual lives that we are simply stewards of what you have entrusted to us. Let us be stewards that are thankful for your many blessings. Amen. 

Friday: “Bow Down” - Psalm 95:6

There are many ways to say Thank You to God. Think about our human relationships - there are many ways to express our gratitude for another person as well. Some people say thank you. Others write thank you. Still others have kind gestures that they do in return. The same is true in our relationship with God.

The Psalmist speaks of one very specific way today to show our gratitude - to bow down. When we bow down it is a sign of humility and awe. A sign acknowledging that God is in control. A promise that we will submit to God’s will and way in our lives because we utterly trust God. 

There are many ways to express our thankfulness, not simply bowing. But we are called to be a thankful people, filled with awe, humble hearts, and lives of praise. 

What are some ways that you can express your thanks to God this week? 

Prayer: God, we simply say thank you today. Thank you for what you blessed us with. Thank you for who you are. Thank you for trusting us to be part of this great mission you have to reach all people with your truth, grace, and love. Thank you. Amen. 

Saturday: Preparing for the Word

You are invited to read and pray this week’s text and topic: “Essential Prayers: Wow” - Psalm 98. 

Family Activity: Take an old jar and some scraps of paper. Write down the things that you are thankful for on the pieces of paper, fold them, and place them in the jar. As you find more things you are thankful for continue to add them to the jar. At some point, either when you need a reminder of God’s goodness or at a planned time, take the slips of paper out of the jar and read them with thankful hearts.