Devotional Thought – Gratitude’s “Good Thing”

19 Nov Devotional Thought – Gratitude’s “Good Thing”

“It is good to give thanks to the LORD…” Psalm 92:1

The Psalmist says that gratitude, giving thanks, is a “good thing.” It is a blessing and benefit to the mind of man which helps to prevent some dreadful diseases.  For example, thanksgiving helps with the pain of a remorseful memory.  Don’t confuse this with a remorseful conscience because that comes from having done something wrong.  A remorseful memory isn’t the pain that comes from a failure to do right, but rather it is pain that comes from the failure of enjoying the blessings of life.

Have you ever experienced this kind of pain? Have you ever looked back through the days of your life only to realize how little you have enjoyed them? To realize that they were days of delight only after they have passed. To see the sun’s bright rays only as it was setting.  This is truly one of the saddest of any experiences that come in our mind. Oh, that we could have enjoyed those days while they still dawned.

Would you wish to be spared from such a pernicious pain as a remorseful memory? You can be if you would learn to live with a thankful heart today! See the sunbeams while they still shine.  Appreciate the jewels that are placed by your path today. To only look back on love is truly a terrible thing. Don’t realize how good today is only when it when has become yesterday, to realize that you’ve walked with the Lord only after His ascension.

If you should go through dark days of sorrow and the clouds cover up your days of delight it would be a good thing for your to be able to say, “At least I appreciated them while they were here.” Some people seem to want to view their life as nothing but a vain enterprise as they approach the valley of death.  That’s is not something that I desire.  When the day of death comes I want to be able to look back and know that I have enjoyed the time that the Lord has given me.  To have enjoyed the blessings that He has poured out on my life while I lived.

I believe that there is a great comfort in knowing that I have consciously enjoyed the heat of the day. That’s why I will enjoy it now. The goodness and blessings of God, shouldn’t I enjoy them to the full today? Shouldn’t I be blessed by every bird that sings? Shouldn’t I be blessed by every flower that blooms? Shouldn’t I be comforted in my soul by every bubbling brook, and encouraged in my heart by every rising sun? I will enjoy all of these, and every other good and perfect gift that He gives, today. That way there will be no pain of a remorseful memory that can pierce my heart.  It is truly a good thing to give thanks to the Lord.