It’s Friday…Anywhere And At Anytime

Thanksgiving Day festivities are just around the corner. Do you ever ask why do created beings give thanks to God and worship Him? Not because He is needy for affirmation, and so He surrounded Himself with sycophants. Not because His ego requires constant stroking. Not because it’s commanded and we therefore must comply. No, God receives thanksgiving and worship because He is exceedingly worthy of it. He is beautiful and generous and a greater marvel than we’ve ever seen. Praise and Thanksgiving is the natural, spontaneous response to seeing who He really is. And around His throne, seeing is inescapable.

“To Him who sits on the throne and to The Lamb be praise and honor and glory and power, for ever and ever.” (Revelation 5:13)

We don’t have that sort of vision every day. We need to remind ourselves of who God is and steep ourselves in His goodness. Like David, we sometimes need to command our own souls to bless God and remember His gifts and mercies (Psalm 103:1-5). Our worship and gratitude isn’t nearly as spontaneous as that of the throngs surrounding the throne. Here on earth, we express our thanksgiving and praise from a dim view in comparison.

Yet, believe it or not, an attitude of genuine gratitude here below is also an enormous blessing to God. He values the praise and thanksgiving of those who “see” Him without seeing, who offer up a sacrifice of praise from a place of uncertainty and seemingly hopeless circumstances. Yes, a self-prompted whispered word of blessing even from a dark place, speaks as loudly to Him as shouts of glory in the light of heaven. He knows how effortlessly worship and thanksgiving flows in His throne room. But those who navigate the tests and trails of this life and who rise above them to honor His name are precious to His heart as well and always.

Vibrant worship and thanksgiving is happening in the throne room of heaven at this very moment. And even when we don’t have a clear vision of that scene, we can join the multitude right now in expressing heartfelt gratitude and praise. This is part of our created purpose. Expressions of gratitude and glory have a powerful transforming effect on our own hearts, our outward circumstances, and our relationships. And they bless the God who created us to be – Anywhere And At Any Time – worshipers at heart.

Have a most thankful weekend. Make it better by worshiping The Lord with those who don’t skip a beat in the here and now so that they may express their love and gratitude to Him, because they are absolutely certain they will be doing that for all eternity.

All For Jesus – Nothing More, Nothing Less, Nothing Else.

“He who is the blessed and only Sovereign, The King of kings and Lord of lords, who alone has immortality, who dwells in unapproachable light, whom no one has ever seen or can see, to Him be honor and eternal dominion. Amen.” (1 Timothy 6:15b-16)