The Greatest Motivation預覽

I give you thanks, O Lord, with my whole heart; before the gods I sing your praise; 2 I bow down toward your holy temple and give thanks to your name for your steadfast love and your faithfulness, for you have exalted above all things your name and your word. 3 On the day I called, you answered me; my strength of soul you increased. 4 All the kings of the earth shall give you thanks, O Lord, for they have heard the words of your mouth, 5 and they shall sing of the ways of the Lord, for great is the glory of the Lord. 6 For though the Lord is high, he regards the lowly, but the haughty he knows from afar. 7 Though I walk in the midst of trouble, you preserve my life; you stretch out your hand against the wrath of my enemies, and your right hand delivers me. 8 The Lord will fulfill his purpose for me; your steadfast love, O Lord, endures forever. Do not forsake the work of your hands. - Psalm 138:1 - 138:8

Let’s reflect on a wonderful psalm that talks about some very important reasons each of us should always be grateful to God. If today you thought you had no reasons to be thankful, the Lord will show you at least five wonderful reasons for gratitude.

This psalm could only be authored by someone with a heart after God’s own heart: King David. If there’s one thing we can say about King David, it’s that he always recognized and thanked God for His wonders in his life. We must consider the title of the psalm: a song of thanksgiving for the favor of Jehovah. This is very important because many times we are more grateful for the favors people do for us and not for the greater favors we receive from the Lord.

But do we know what the word “favor” means?
A favor is help or assistance provided freely: God helps us freely and selflessly, unlike humans who always expect something in return.
A favor is a demonstration of goodwill: God’s help shows us His goodwill and desire to bless us.
A favor is a benefit or service provided to another person: God doesn’t help us because He needs it but because He wants to benefit us in all things.

God is worthy of all our gratitude because He has been faithful to His Word (Psalm 138:1-2). When someone is grateful, they exalt the person who blessed them, and this is what David did: he recognized the greatness and majesty of the Lord, declaring that there is no other god like our God (Exodus 15:11). Therefore, our hearts should always be full of gratitude, recognizing that our God is Almighty, Supreme, and there is no other like Him. But why should we recognize this greatness and majesty? Because everything God has promised us will be fulfilled (Joshua 23:14).

God is worthy of all our gratitude because He has heard our cries (Psalm 138:3). God always hears our prayers, and we must be grateful for that. Often, we do not know how to recognize God’s voice and respond. But He is always ready to listen to our pleas (1 John 5:14).

God is worthy of all our gratitude because He is attentive to the humble (Psalm 138:6). We need to understand that humility is a virtue that pleases God, and a humble heart can recognize the wonders that God has done in their life (James 4:6). Therefore, the Lord draws near to the humble heart that recognizes His wonders.

God is worthy of all our gratitude because He has preserved us in times of difficulty (Psalm 138:7). Life often presents difficult moments where we feel overwhelmed and defeated, but in those times, God has always sustained us. He is the one who protects us from the traps of the enemy (Psalm 91:3) and helps us move forward. If today we can stand firm, it is because God has been our help in times of trouble (Psalm 46:1).

God is worthy of all our gratitude because He has completed His work in us (Psalm 138:8). God has a perfect purpose and plan for our lives, and He is always working to bring it to fulfillment (Philippians 1:6). Even when we do not understand, God is faithful and will not leave His work unfinished.

Conclusion: If we recognize these five reasons, our hearts will always be full of gratitude toward our God. This gratitude will motivate us to live for Him and proclaim His wonders to the world.