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Thanksgiving Pleases God by Pastor Charlie Handren

By Anonymous
When we suffer, and especially when we intensely suffer, singing praise to God and giving thanks to God are among the last things we want to do and among the first things we need to do. On the one hand, giving praise and thanks to God magnifies his great name, and on the other hand, it helps us fix our eyes on him rather than on our circumstances and see things from his perspective rather than ours.

Since King David suffered so much in his life and also wrote about it, he provides us with a great model of what it looks like to endure the trials of life with the praise of God on our lips. For example, in Psalm 69, David pours out his lament before God, describes the nature of his suffering (69:1-4, 7-12, 19-21), confesses his own sin, and prays that God would keep others from suffering for it (69:5-6). Having put these things on the table, he then prays for deliverance from and justice against his enemies (69:13-18, 22-29), and he pledges to give himself to the praise and thanks of God.

He writes, “I will praise the name of God with a song; I will magnify him with thanksgiving. This will please the Lord more than an ox or a bull with horns and hoofs. When the humble see it, they will be glad; you who seek God, let your hearts revive. For the Lord hears the needy and does not despise his own people who are prisoners” (Psalm 69:30-33).

In the midst of intense and overwhelming pain, David gave himself to praise and thanks because he knew that this was best for him and that a humble heart means more to the Lord than any offering we can bring. Indeed, while the Lord had commanded his people to offer various things to him for the glory of his name, he was and is after their hearts rather than their sacrifices. As David wrote elsewhere, “The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken spirit and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise” (Psalm 51:17).

Praise and thanks please the Lord because the Lord values the humble heart that gives them, and because he knows these things are best for our hearts. Since this is so, David concludes his Psalm by calling on all heaven and earth to praise the name of God, knowing that he will be faithful to fulfill all of his purposes, promises, and plans (69:34-36).

So, Beloved, let us give our praise and thanks to God in every season of life. Let us render to him the glory due his name. Let us honor him with the sacrifices of our lips, and ask him to help us see our circumstances and our future through his eyes. This will indeed please our God and bring help and healing to our own hearts. 
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