30 I will praise God’s name with song;
I will magnify him with thanks
31 because that is more pleasing to the Lord than an ox,
more pleasing than a young bull with full horns and hooves.
32 Let the afflicted see it and be glad!
You who seek God—
let your hearts beat strong again
33 because the Lord listens to the needy
and doesn’t despise his captives.
Reflection
There are many, many ways to give thanks to God.
We can give thanks in prayer, in song, in dance, in worship, in kindness, in generosity, etc. Another way to give thanks to God is by being a witness to the love that God has offered us. This text starts with the Psalmist saying that they will “praise God’s name with song” and magnify who God is with gratitude. They write that this is more valuable to God then anything else.
“Let the afflicted see it and be glad!”
A way to give thanks to God is to simply do the work of God, share the love of God, be the hands and feet of God, and try to be more and more like Christ everyday. When we do that, and others see the positive impact it has on our lives, others lives, and the world around us, others will want to join in that thanksgiving. The gratitude and love that is a product of it are infectious, and we can be a part of that growing.
As we finish our works days, food prep, and once again adapt our ever-changing plans for this long Thanksgiving weekend, may we actively be a part of stopping the spread of COVID while spreading God’s love.
By Rachel Callender
For Pondering & Prayer
When has someone done something that made the presence of God known to you? What in particular made it so impactful? What is one thing you can do today to share that with others?
Prayer: Loving God, fill us with gratitude. Allow that gratitude to seep from our every pore so that it is inescapable. Let gratitude reach every corner of the earth and fill every heart. Amen.
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