JOYFUL SONG OF THANKSGIVING

The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in Him, and I am helped.  Therefore my heart rejoices, and I give thanks to Him with my song.

Psalm 28:7

David had many times when he needed God to be his strength and shield. Enemies pursued him (it seemed regularly) and even his own son Absolom raised an army against him. David always remembered his strength came from God. Even as a boy he slayed the Giant Goliath with God’s strength behind the stone as it hurled out of his sling. His confidence was bolstered by the fact that God had already delivered him from wild beasts while tending his father’s sheep. “But David said to the Philistine, “You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the LORD of Hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied” (1 Samuel 17:45). David was God’s warrior, but he was also God’s singer who glorified the Lord with psalms. God has never had to rescue me (Susie) from wild animals or help me to fight a nine-foot tall giant, but God has been my strength and shield. When my husband left me, I battled a deep depression and even questioned how my loving God could let divorce happen to me. I cried out to the Lord . . . actually, I yelled at Him. He heard my cries and guided me to a singles group who loved me, discipled me, and restored my trust in the God of my salvation. God had to restore not only my trust in Him but my ability to trust and let other people in. The person I had pledged my love to, with whom I had become one flesh, had deserted me. Gradually, that trust in God and His people grew back in me again. As I healed from my hurts, my songs of joy were restored. I once again rejoiced to express gratitude to the Lord with my voice and my piano. Psalm 28:7 became my favorite verse and a memorized reminder in the tough times that the Lord IS my strength and my shield, and I can trust Him.

Are you going through a time when it is difficult to find a reason to give thanks? Make a practice of giving thanks for even the tiniest blessings—a beautiful flower in your garden, a child waving at you in the grocery store, the ability to pay your bills on time. I have found that as I express gratitude to God, He gives me more reasons to be grateful. Think back on previous times you thought you couldn’t go on, but God intervened through the thoughtfulness of a friend or the kindness of a stranger. Make thanksgiving a habit, not only a holiday.

Lord, help us to count and be thankful for our blessings rather than wallow in our woes. You are “a shield around me, my glory, and the One who lifts my head” (Psalm 3:3). Increase our faith in You that we may resist being discouraged and drink up the encouragement found in Your word.