Day 14 - Thanksgiving

Praise the LORD! Praise God in his Temple! Praise his strength in heaven! Praise him for the mighty things he has done. Praise his supreme greatness. Praise him with trumpets. Praise him with harps and lyres. Praise him with drums and dancing. Praise him with harps and flutes. Praise him with cymbals. Praise him with loud cymbals. Praise the LORD, all living creatures! Praise the LORD! 

Pray: "It is wonderful to be grateful and to sing your praises, LORD Most High! It is wonderful each morning to tell about your love and at night to announce how faithful you are" (Psalm 92:1-2, CEV).

Reflect: What instruments do you enjoy the most as the means to express praise? Why? In what ways are praise and thanksgiving part of the same response to God? Where and when will be your next opportunity to join other "living creatures" to praise God? How will you prepare?

Respond: Thanksgiving meals usually require a significant amount of preparation on someone's part: growing, planning, purchasing, preparing, cooking, baking, serving, etc. Most of our efforts at thanksgiving to God come with little preparation or forethought. Sometimes, gratitude should be spontaneous! But the power of spontaneous thanksgiving comes from a heart and life that are persistently grateful, supplemented by moments of insight or awareness that trigger praise to God. What changes in your pattern of praise have you implemented or are considering, as a result of this season of thanksgiving?