Psalms 136:1-26 (NLT)
1 Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good! His faithful love endures forever.
2 Give thanks to the God of gods. His faithful love endures forever.
3 Give thanks to the Lord of lords. His faithful love endures forever.
4 Give thanks to him who alone does mighty miracles. His faithful love endures forever.
5 Give thanks to him who made the heavens so skillfully. His faithful love endures forever.
6 Give thanks to him who placed the earth among the waters. His faithful love endures forever.
7 Give thanks to him who made the heavenly lights—His faithful love endures forever.
8 the sun to rule the day, His faithful love endures forever.
9 and the moon and stars to rule the night. His faithful love endures forever.
10 Give thanks to him who killed the firstborn of Egypt. His faithful love endures forever.
11 He brought Israel out of Egypt. His faithful love endures forever.
12 He acted with a strong hand and powerful arm. His faithful love endures forever.
13 Give thanks to him who parted the Red Sea. His faithful love endures forever.
14 He led Israel safely through, His faithful love endures forever.
15 but he hurled Pharaoh and his army into the Red Sea. His faithful love endures forever.
16 Give thanks to him who led his people through the wilderness. His faithful love endures forever.
17 Give thanks to him who struck down mighty kings. His faithful love endures forever.
18 He killed powerful kings—His faithful love endures forever.
19 Sihon king of the Amorites, His faithful love endures forever.
20 and Og king of Bashan. His faithful love endures forever.
21 God gave the land of these kings as an inheritance—His faithful love endures forever.
22 a special possession to his servant Israel. His faithful love endures forever.
23 He remembered us in our weakness. His faithful love endures forever.
24 He saved us from our enemies. His faithful love endures forever.
25 He gives food to every living thing. His faithful love endures forever.
26 Give thanks to the God of heaven. His faithful love endures forever.
In the praise of God there are four very powerful elements – His power, its application in salvation/deliverance/provision, continual recognition of dependence on His faithful love for all of it, and repeated gratitude. Rather than just praise Him for His amazing power and ability, there is a necessary connection of that power to those He cares for. It’s in this connection that the praise becomes personal, touching the emotions with continual gratitude. Each rehearsed act is progressive magnifying of God’s love poured out way beyond any deserving to preserve, restore, and provide. Repeated gratitude secures in the heart an attitude of reception as a gift, not an entitlement.
While we’ve secured this provision in Christ, there is a heart to be maintained in this same pattern with regard to the blessings that are ours as an inheritance. Grace has made all of God’s goodness accessible, but a great help in its application to life is a heart that is well-rehearsed in gratitude for each element of our provision. With each expression of gratitude is overwhelming revelation of His mercy and love in gifting it to us. Any insidious pride or entitlement that would assume a right to His goodness apart from His loving mercy demonstrated in the gift of Jesus’ blood will corrupt and disable faith in Him. Realizing what He will yet do is dependent upon humble and grateful recognition of what He has already done. The heart will be prepared for more where it has been rightly developed regarding what God has done.