A Thank FULL heart

One of my favorite Psalms is Psalm 34. David just pours his heart before God in this song. You can sense his love and passion for the Lord. Please read the entire chapter below from the Message version of the Bible:

Psalm 34:1-22 I bless GOD every chance I get; my lungs expand with his praise. (2) I live and breathe GOD; if things aren't going well, hear this and be happy: (3) Join me in spreading the news; together let's get the word out. (4) GOD met me more than halfway, he freed me from my anxious fears. (5) Look at him; give him your warmest smile. Never hide your feelings from him. (6) When I was desperate, I called out, and GOD got me out of a tight spot. (7) GOD's angel sets up a circle of protection around us while we pray. (8) Open your mouth and taste, open your eyes and see-- how good GOD is. Blessed are you who run to him. (9) Worship GOD if you want the best; worship opens doors to all his goodness. (10) Young lions on the prowl get hungry, but GOD-seekers are full of God. (11) Come, children, listen closely; I'll give you a lesson in GOD worship. (12) Who out there has a lust for life? Can't wait each day to come upon beauty? (13) Guard your tongue from profanity, and no more lying through your teeth. (14) Turn your back on sin; do something good. Embrace peace--don't let it get away! (15) GOD keeps an eye on his friends, his ears pick up every moan and groan. (16) GOD won't put up with rebels; he'll cull them from the pack. (17) Is anyone crying for help? GOD is listening, ready to rescue you. (18) If your heart is broken, you'll find GOD right there; if you're kicked in the gut, he'll help you catch your breath. (19) Disciples so often get into trouble; still, GOD is there every time. (20) He's your bodyguard, shielding every bone; not even a finger gets broken. (21) The wicked commit slow suicide; they waste their lives hating the good. (22) GOD pays for each slave's freedom; no one who runs to him loses out.

In the KJV, David said, "I will bless the Lord at all times: His praise shall continually be in my mouth." I want to have a thank FULL heart. Being thankful is just having a heart FULL of thanks. A thankful heart should be a way of life for us. But did you know that it can save your life?

When Jonah disobeyed God and ended up inside the whale, he told the Lord, "I will sacrifice to You with… thanksgiving" (Jonah 2:9 NKJV). When he did, God made the fish spit him up on dry land. When you are in a difficult situation and everything seems to be falling apart all around you, that's when you need to raise your voice in praise. Nothing demonstrates trust like thanking God when you're in the middle of a crisis. When you don't understand where God is, and why heaven seems silent is when you need to really offer the sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving.

A thankful heart does two things:

(a) It builds your faith. The reason "we [can] walk by faith [and] not by sight (Colossians 5:7 NAS), is because we know that regardless of the circumstances, God's working on our behalf (Romans 8:28). David said, "Magnify the Lord with me" (Psalm 34:3 NKJV).

To magnify something is to enlarge it. When you focus on God instead of the problem, your perception and understanding of God becomes bigger and the problem becomes smaller. Plus, "Faith comes by hearing… the Word of God" (Romans 10:17 NKJV). Hearing God's promises coming from your own lips causes faith to rise in your heart. So start talking!

(b) It restores life. Before raising Lazarus from the dead, Jesus looked up to Heaven and said, "Father… thank You that You have heard Me. And I know that You always hear Me" (John 11:41-42 NKJV). Something wonderful happens when you start thanking God for saving, protecting and providing for you. Your faith soars. You gain the confidence to declare that those things in your life that you thought were dead will live again. So, cultivate a thankful heart. God really does deserve it! Blessings.

Pastor Rusty