TODAY’S SCRIPTURE
Praise the Lord, my soul. Psalm 104:1a
Read: Psalm 104:1
Listen: Psalm 104
TODAY’S MESSAGE
Psalm 104 is an amazing example of worshiping God. Strangely, the first verse starts with the Psalmist telling himself to praise God. He’s making a deliberate choice to do it. We see this numerous times in the Psalms. The Psalmist worships God and thanks God for many things, but it starts with a choice. He chooses to look at his life and the world around him see things to be thankful for. He finds things to worship God for. It starts with a choice to worship God.
The gratitude expressed in Psalm 104 is a great example. It reminds us that gratitude isn’t just a response to extraordinary circumstances in our lives. Developing a grateful heart won’t happen if the only time we are thankful is when it seems like something unexpected happened. Just like the Psalmist tells himself to praise God, we can develop a grateful heart through the habit of gratitude. It’s a choice we have to make. It’s a skill we can learn. Writing down three things a day is a discipline designed to help us reflect on the generosity of God evident in our daily lives. Watch this video clip as Pastor Jeff Manion explains how it’s not something that changes our heart instantly. But over time, something changes. It slows us down for a few moments each day to think about God and what he’s given us.
IN YOUR CHAIR TIME TODAY
Pray and ask God to help us be sincerely thankful for the many ways he’s provided for us. Ask God to help you stick with the 26 DAYS OF GRATITUDE. When you write down the three things you are grateful for today, say a quick prayer asking God that the gratitude discipline would begin to change your heart.
NEW TESTAMENT READING PLAN
Join us this year as we read through the New Testament.
Today’s reading is Hebrews 13.
Download a printable PDF of the BTW week here.
