Reason Drives Gratitude

Know that the Lord, he is God! It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture. Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise! Give thanks to him; bless his name! For the Lord is good; his steadfast love endures forever, and his faithfulness to all generations. Psalm 100:3-5

Picture in your mind the last time you witnessed an act of ungratefulness. When I see this play out in life, it is deeply disturbing to me. We are naturally ungrateful from a young age. It has been a practice of mine to instruct my children to thank their mom (or dad!) for preparing them a meal. They’ve learned the behavior, but not always the reason. Understanding the reason is what makes behavior stick.

Look closely for a reason here in Psalm 100. The psalmist mentions a few crucial considerations that lead to being grateful before God. The first thing you’ll notice is that the reason is about who God is and what He has done. He is good, steadfast, lasts forever, and is faithful to all generations. God created us and concerned Himself with our well being. Men are only recipients.

Living a life of gratitude may start with the expectation to “say thank you,” but it becomes entrenched in the life of a man when he realizes who God is. When you take the time to evaluate your life and realize even the smallest detail of God’s faithfulness to you, thankfulness becomes sticky. Let the reason drive your gratitude.

DO THIS TODAY: Focus on one act of God’s goodness toward you. Thank God for that.