November 26 – Gratitude Believes (Psalm 105:1-7)

“Look to the Lord and his strength; seek his face always.”
(Psalm 105:4)

IN WORD:
Faith without thankfulness is like a huge, unanswered question. It comes to God with possibilities, but has no assurance that He will address them well. It knows He can do good things, but it doesn’t know that He will. Forgetting the God of the past, it tries in vain to figure out the God of the present and the future. It is weak.
Faith with thankfulness doesn’t just look for the Lord, it looks to the Lord. It knows who He is. It remembers past mercies and bases today’s needs on their proven source. It comes to God with possibilities, not knowing how He will address them, but knowing He will address them well. It is not a tentative question about God; it is a knowledgeable statement. It understands His grace.
We need no reminders to seek God; it is a natural impulse, especially when we’re in trouble. No, our problem is remembering how to seek Him. Paul’s letters are abundant in instructions to utter prayers filled with thankfulness. The faith that Jesus always applauded was a faith that acknowledged up front who He was. We may have lots of questions when we come to God, and we may be confused about many spiritual issues. But we have no reason to ever come to Him questioning His goodness. Our gratitude for what He has done in the past will prepare us to know what kinds of things He will do in the future. It will get us in sync with His heart.

IN DEED:
Are your prayers filled with fear and confusion? Do you wonder if God will be good to you? There is no need for such uncertainty. Scripture is filled with His goodness, and so is your life. Look between the hardships and the pain and see that He has granted life and redemption. There are always blessings to find — far more than we can count.
Gratitude makes faith strong. Thankful people understand the God who is strong. They see His face and are not afraid. They aren’t just hoping for His goodness. They’re expecting it.

“Faith without thankfulness lacks strength and fortitude.”
-John Henry Jowett-