By Pastor William Y. K. Brown Ph.D
(Resident Pastor)
Seventh-day Adventist Church
Osu-Bethel.
Tel: 0244165628/0243310773.
wykbrown@gmail.com
THURSDAY
THEME: GRATITUDE TO GOD OF SALVATION AND PROVIDENCE”
SCRIPTURE: Psalms 65:2,4,11
“[2]O You who hear prayer, To You all flesh will come. [4]Blessed is the man You choose, And cause to approach You, That he may dwell in Your courts. . . [11]You crown the year with Your goodness, And Your paths drip with abundance.”
REFLECTIONS
The very day we cease to praise God for His providence and salvation, we would be dead physically or spiritually. Our eyes behold God’s acts of kindness daily. His goodness is not far-fetched – even the unbelievers rejoice for the good that comes their way all because of God’s care. How can we refrain our voices from praising God? How can we be blind to the widespread goodness of God? We are to emulate David in according praises to God.
In his lifetime, David was full of praises to God in all circumstances. In Psalms 65, he showers praises on God for His salvation and providence. Not a single day are we denied God’s salvation and providence—He saves and provides. He does not discriminate—both the good and the bad receive His providence, and salvation is for all willing. Oh, those who have tasted the goodness of God will testify to the world of the privilege of having God as our Father, Creator, and Redeemer.
Psalms 65:1 lauds the Lord, “Praise is awaiting You, O God, in Zion; And to You the vow shall be performed.” David affirms that God hears prayer and atones for our sins. Therefore, the whole community of believers will come to His temple in praise and worship (verses 2,3). We are re-assured in verses 4 and 5, “[4]Blessed is the man You choose, And cause to approach You, . . . We shall be satisfied with the goodness of Your house, . . . [5]By awesome deeds in righteousness, You will answer us, O God of our salvation, You who are the confidence of all the ends of the earth, And of the far-off seas;” We are chosen to come near God, and with awesome deeds, He will satisfy us with spiritual and physical blessings. What a privilege! God is our confidence in this life.
Beloved, trust God to perform marvelous deeds in your life today. He will still the noise of the sea waves and will cause your heart to rejoice (verses 7-8). God will visit you, water the dry lands in your life, and nourish you with hope and blessings. He will shower blessings on all that needs to grow in your life and make you His delight (verses 9-10). We claim verse 11 with David: “You crown the year with Your goodness, And Your paths drip with abundance.” Friend, you cannot be mean and ungrateful and only be complaining. You are not happy because you are full of yourself and have failed to appreciate God’s favor on you. Who will give to support an ungrateful person? If you meditate on God’s goodness, provisions, salvation, and unceasing love, your heart will rejoice, and you will be full of praise and gratitude.
MY SONG OF COMMITMENT
SDAH 625 – “Higher Ground”
LET US PRAY
– Praise and thank God for His kindness and love; thank God for His provisions, protection, and blessings; pray for a heart of gratitude and eyes to see God’s wondrous deeds;
– Pray for those in your sphere of influence who complain instead of seeing the good in their lives; pray for your family and members of your church to be grateful to God;
– Intercede for children who are dissociated from their parents and guardians who take care of other people’s children; pray for families you associate with;
– Pray for healing mercies for the sick, unique insights for medical personnel and families caring for the elderly, differently-abled persons, children with autism; and God’s love for all these.
