“Sing praise to the LORD; tell the wonderful things he has done.” Psalm 105:2 (GNT)
Sometimes in life, you don’t realize God is all you need until God is all you have—and that’s exactly what he wants you to learn.
When you experience pain and feel weak and defeated, when you think you have no support and are afraid you’re going under, that’s when God’s strength shows up best. The apostle Paul said in 2 Corinthians 12:9, “Each time [the Lord] said, ‘My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.’ So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me” (2 Corinthians 12:9 NLT).
Have you ever thanked God for the fact that, while other people and circumstances are working against you, he is working in you to make you more like him and to show off his strength and power?
God says in Psalm 50:23, “Giving thanks is a sacrifice that truly honors me” (NLT).
We can learn to be more thankful today by remembering what God has done for us in the past. When you take time to remember what he has brought you through and how he’s provided for you, it’s like a sacrifice to him. It honors him when you stop and thank him for his past grace.
Even if you are experiencing hardship right now, you can still thank God for what he has done.
“Sing praise to the LORD; tell the wonderful things he has done” (Psalm 105:2 GNT).
What wonderful things has God done for you in the past? How has he shown his glory in your life by using your pain for good? How have you become more like him through the changes in your life? How can you honor him today with a sacrifice of praise?
Take some time to write down one story of God’s faithfulness to you. Maybe it was a time when people from the church or your small group showed up for you. Maybe it was when you had to give something up but learned how to sacrifice in faith. Maybe it was a transformative experience as you served other people. Or maybe it was a quiet moment, a lesson learned, or a decision made.
As you remember what God has done in the past, you’ll understand better why he is all you need today, and you’ll thank him even more for it.
Why do you think Psalm 50:23 calls giving thanks a “sacrifice”?
Who can you tell today about what God has done for you? Why is it important to share it with others?
What do you need God’s grace for today? Ask him to remind you of his grace in the past and how you have seen him work in your life and the lives of others.
