It is the season of thanksgiving in many places around the world, including the United States. Now that the year is about to close, it's time to reflect on the many blessings we have received from God.
In this episode, Pastor Ted Wilson would like us to reflect on one of the most uplifting passages in the Bible—Psalm 107. It says: "Oh, give thanks to the Lord, for He is good! For His mercy endures forever. Let the redeemed of the Lord say so, whom He has redeemed from the hand of the enemy, and gathered out of the lands, from the east and from the west, from the north and from the south."
This passage covers everyone. No matter where you are from, God has redeemed you from the hand of the enemy. It continues by covering the history of how God delivered ancient Israel. And it can apply to us today, delivering promise after promise of God's mighty power to save.
As Psalm describes the various trials God's people went through, we hear this refrain again and again: "Then they cried out to the Lord in their trouble, and He delivered them out of their distresses" (verses 6, 13, 19, and 28).
God doesn't only deliver us out of distress, but He also "satisfies the longing soul and fills the hungry soul with goodness (verse 9). He leads us forward "by the right way" (verse 7). Also, He breaks our chains and brings us "out of darkness and the shadow of death" (verse 14).
"Oh, that men would give thanks to the Lord for His goodness, and for His wonderful works to the children of men!" (verse 15).
God sends His Word to heal and deliver us from destruction (verses 19 and 20). With this, let us "sacrifice the sacrifices of thanksgiving and declare His works with rejoicing" (verse 22). "Cry out to the Lord in [our] trouble, and He brings [us] out of [our] distresses" (verse 28).
"He calms the storm so that its waves are still. Then they are glad because they are quiet; so He guides them to their desired haven. Oh, that men would give thanks to the Lord for His goodness, and for His wonderful works to the children of men!" (verses 29-31).
"He sets the poor on high, far from affliction, and makes their families like a flock, the righteous see it and rejoice, and all iniquity stops its mouth. Whoever is wise will observe these things, and they will understand the loving kindness of the Lord" (verses 41-43).
Ellen White writes in Steps to Christ 102 and 103: "We need to praise God more 'for His goodness, and for His wonderful works to the children of men.' (p. 102, Ps. 107:8). "Our devotional exercises should not consist wholly in asking and receiving. Let us not be always thinking of our wants and never of the benefits we receive. We do not pray any too much, but we are too sparing of giving thanks. We are the constant recipients of God's mercies, and yet how little gratitude we express, how little we praise Him for what He has done for us."
Indeed, we have so much to be thankful for. With this, Pastor Ted encourages you to spend time writing down at least ten things you're grateful for daily. Research shows that having a gratitude journal increases physical, mental, and spiritual health.