"Thankful"

Sometimes it’s quiet solitude,

And soaking in the peace,

Baptized by the thankfulness,

And drinking sweet release.

The presence of the Savior,

Closer than the air you breathe,

The beauty of His holiness,

That gives your soul reprieve.

Sometimes it’s loud and joyful,

With dancing steps and shouts,

Flaming hallelujahs,

And laughing turnabouts.

The exuberance and energy,

Ocean waves of praise,

No thought but adoration,

Our hearts and hands we raise.

With one or two His presence there,

Can lift grief from your heart,

Or with thousands in a chorus,

As the Spirit does His part.

To help rehearse for heaven,

Where the worship never ends,

And the King is all that matters,

All authentic, no pretends.

And then when we are home there,

And each and every one,

Speaks the name of Jesus,

And glorifies the Son,

We’ll wonder why we worried,

If we remember it at all,

Eternal celebration,

With all who on Him call.

“Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. Praise the Lord!” (Psalm 150:6, NAS)

If we’re breathing we should be praising. It’s our identity and destiny to worship the Lord, and there is never any excuse to do otherwise. Paul wrote that we are to give thank in all circumstances because it’s God’s will for all who belong to Christ Jesus. If we are alive and belong to Him we are called to worship Him consistently in Spirit and in truth. Every worship service and indeed life itself is a rehearsal for heaven. And heaven is filled with praise forever. If God’s will is done on earth as it is in heaven, then from start to finish our default position is one of praise. Praise the Lord.

Lord, teach us to be thankful, in Jesus’ name.

Photo by Kirstie Lambert, used by permission. Thanks, Kirstie, and God bless you.