The clarion call for this time of year is that we declare our gratitude. We need to thankful for all that God has done in our lives. This call goes out around the world for men and women, boys and girls. Truthfully, this mindset of thankfulness is one the believer should possess at all times.

 

This morning, the psalmist writes in Psalm 107, “Oh give thanks to the Lord, for He is good.” No greater declaration can be made; however, it is not to stop and be more specific about His goodness. For generations, God’s people have gone along and never truly acknowledging the Lord and His goodness. 

 

As we look at the Psalm, the writer says, “that the redeemed of the Lord should be giving thanks.” For we have to be restored, reclaimed, bought back, rescued from the enemy, and from a life of sin and ultimately from hell. For the psalmist, he reflects upon a scattered nation that God had gathered from the east, and the west, and the north and the south. For us, this gathering together is in our homes, in our churches and places of fellowship by the grace of God. He has spared us again to see this time for another year.

 

For the psalmist, there is a pattern that establishes the heart of thankfulness that I believe we can use throughout our daily lives. The psalmist has the pattern of (1) identifying a problem; (2) offering a prayer; (3) seeing God’s provisions and; (4) offering God praise.   As we progress through the text, we can see this formula that will produce thankfulness.

 

In verses 4-5, they wandered and couldn’t find a city, they were hungry and thirsty and their souls fainted. These sound like problems to me. Problems that many of us, during the course of the year could understand. Many have physically hungered for things in their lives. Many have a spiritual hunger and thirst that only God can fill. Many souls are faint today because they have no relationship with God. 

 

Then the psalmist says, they cried to the Lord in trouble. Their cry is their prayer. Their prayer comes in a time of trouble or problems. I am sure there is some thankfulness in the house because when we prayed to God, He heard our prayer. For the psalmist writes, He delivered them out of their distress. He is a deliverer. He has been a deliverer and we know He will continue to be a deliverer; therefore, I praise Him.   I praise Him! You praise Him! We praise Him because there was a problem, we offered a prayer, he made provisions and now He deserves our praise!

 

Again the psalmist creates the pattern that leads to thankfulness, problem, prayer, provision and praise.  In verse 10, we see problems again. There is darkness and imprisonment. Many are dwelling in the shadow of death because they have rebelled against the words of God and the counsel of the most high.

 

The psalmist also speaks of this rebellious spirit verse 17. This sounds like some of our problems today. So many of us, through out the year, have rebelled against God; however, God has found a way to deliver us. Deliverance for many may have come through humility. For many this morning, I dare us to pray for humility. I dare us to trust God enough with our lives to that we give him the authority in our lives to humble us. To pray for patience is one thing; however, to pray for humility is a whole knew level; however, there are blessings in humility. I Peter 5:6 says humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He might exalt you at the proper or due time.

 

All throughout the remainder of this Psalm, we see problems, prayer, provision and praise. What if the people of God use this as a pattern for their lives? Maybe there would be a spirit of thankfulness in our homes and churches today. Maybe, just maybe, if we would seek his face, turn from our wicked ways, then just maybe we would hear from heaven and He would heal the land. 

 

Lord, I pray that your people would be humbled and given a thankful spirit. Lord, I pray that this thankful spirit would be developed, out of the recognition, of when there is a problem, we ought to pray. When we pray and see God’s provisions that we offer praise. Thank you, Lord for a year of problems, prayers, provisions and praise. In Jesus name, AMEN!