Thank You, Lord

Living in the Spirit

November 24, 2020

Scripture Reading:
Psalm 65
Praise is due to you,
   O God, in Zion;
and to you shall vows be performed,
  O you who answer prayer!
To you all flesh shall come.
 When deeds of iniquity overwhelm us,
   you forgive our transgressions.
Happy are those whom you choose and bring near
   to live in your courts.
We shall be satisfied with the goodness of your house,
   your holy temple.

You visit the earth and water it,
   you greatly enrich it;
the river of God is full of water;
   you provide the people with grain,
   for so you have prepared it.
You water its furrows abundantly,
   settling its ridges,
softening it with showers,
   and blessing its growth.
You crown the year with your bounty;
   your wagon tracks overflow with richness.
The pastures of the wilderness overflow,
  the hills gird themselves with joy,
  the meadows clothe themselves with flocks,
  the valleys deck themselves with grain,
  they shout and sing together for joy.—Psalm 65:1-4, 9-13

For what are we thankful?

  • God who is faithful and forgiving even when we are not until our deeds of iniquity overwhelm us and we confess our sins
  • God who welcomes us into his presence
  • God who provides water in a dry and arid land
  • God who understands are needs and supplies us with enough
  • God who loves the sound of God’s children singing together for joy

How must we then respond to a generous and gracious God?

  • Learn from our mistakes as we strive for wholeness
  • Turn around from the temptations of the world and bask in God’s abiding presence
  • Care for God’s earth as if our lives depend on it
  • Share the bounty of Gods earth so that all God’s children have enough
  • Make a joyful noise to the Lord, serve the Lord with gladness, come into God’s presence with singing*

Prayer: Thank you, Lord, for saving our souls. Thank you, Lord, for making us whole*. Amen.

*From Psalm 100
**From Thank You Lord For Saving My Soul, lyrics and music by Seth and Bessie Sykes

All scriptures are quoted from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicized Edition, copyright 1989, 1995, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights are reserved.