Sunday 19 Feb 2023

February 19: Psalm 136:1-9

Key Verse: Psalm 136:2
Give thanks to the God of gods. His love endures for ever.

Devotion:
If you have the time, stop and read through all 26 verses in this psalm; I have chosen the first few to illustrate the point I wish to make, but there is so much more to gain from reading the whole chapter. These first few verses solidify the idea of exactly who God is in our minds – or at least it should do!

All too often we take friends and family for granted because they are always there – you don’t have to ask them to stick around and you don’t have to go hunting for them when they go out because they are bound to come home… These verses reminded me of how we take God for granted in our lives. As a new Christian you will probably say all manner of prayers thanking God for what He does and you continually ask Him for a little bit more of everything…

But as you grow up and older as a Christian, you often get a bit too used to God doing things in your life and you stop asking Him so much. You start expecting Him to continue doing things for you even to the point of getting cross with Him when He does not do something! Each verse in this psalm reminds us to give thanks to God for everything He does. Each verse lists something He has or is doing and reminds us of His enduring love!

We don’t have to continue asking Him to love us, because he already does. But if we continue to thank Him for what He does do and continue to acknowledge Him for those things He has done, is doing and will do – then we are worshipping God and giving Him all the glory for our lives and for the lives of those around us.

Points to Ponder:
How often do you speak to God?

How often do you thank God?