An Attitude of Thanksgiving

"Being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus" (NIV).

In this very room are stories of how God has preserved our lives through military combat, loss of loved ones, loss of jobs, sicknesses, family strife, heartache and deep personal loss. But Jesus said, "I will never leave you. I will never let you go." And even more. This God preserves us body and soul unto eternity. He saves our souls and as I told a family gathered this week before the earthly remains of their loved one, He is coming again, as Job said, to stand upon the earth and redeem even the bodies of His people.

And so our refrain: through every trial, through the adversity of every enemy that comes against us, and even unto death: "The hesed love of God will never let me go. Therefore I thank You."

A Theology of Bing Crosby

We have seen how this psalm teaches to thank God for His creation, for His salvation, and for His preservation of our lives.

So, you might say, "Alright, it is good and honorable to thank God. But so what? Can Thanksgiving bring any practical benefit for our lives?"

It was no sacred hymn to be sure. But one of my favorite songs in the entire world is a song taken from the good old Christmastime movie Holiday Inn, or White Christmas for its more popular soundtrack. But the song I really love (and one which I have sung to John Michael as a baby) is when Bing Crosby and Rosemary Clooney can't sleep, and they meet up in their pajamas over glasses of milk and sandwiches. There in the kitchen, snowbound at an Inn in Vermont, old velvet-voice Bing belts out a real classic:

"When I'm worried and I can't sleep

I count my blessings instead of sheep

And I fall asleep counting my blessings

When my bankroll is getting small

I think of when I had none at all

And I fall asleep counting my blessings."

Now Bing Crosby wasn't a theologian, to be sure, but he was on to something there. Counting your blessings leads to peace. But let us add what we learn in God's Word and say that not just counting blessings but bringing thanks to the One who brings the blessings is the better way. This is what we are taught so clearly and memorable by Paul in Philippians 4:6,7:

"Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.  And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus" (ESV).

Thanksgiving as an act that transforms you, that soothes your soul, which heals you. It's not just a good old song. It is good theology. It's good living. And the invitation of this psalm is to draw close to the God of enduring grace who will never let you go. And then to thank Him for who He is, for what He has made, for what He has done, and for what He is doing right now in your life.

That is why we are here: to sing our sacred refrain, the song of our lives.