5 Ways to Show Appreciation to God for His Faithfulness

March 2, 2015 Year B

Psalm 105:1-6

Have you ever stopped to thank someone for what they have done for you? We do it many times with people we care about. Perhaps someone came to fix something in the house. A friend came and watched your dog while you were gone. Someone who cares about you got you out of a bind. Your parents looked out for your interests when someone was trying to assassinate your character. These things happen and show our appreciation for what they did.

We should do the same thing with God. God is faithful to His people. I wrote about “5 Times God Shows His Faithfulness,” and we should show our appreciation. Psalm 105 is a psalm of appreciation. The writer wants to remind the reader how much one can to show appreciate God. Later in the psalm, the accounts of God’s faithfulness are recorded. But the psalmist starts out showing appreciation to God.

God does not need my appreciation. He does not thrive on it. However, like anyone else, God enjoys receiving appreciation for His faithfulness.

The psalmist states five ways to show appreciation to God.

FIVE WAYS TO SHOW GOD APPRECIATION

1. Thank God (Psalm 105:1)

“Give thanks to Yahweh, call on His name; proclaim His deeds among the peoples.” (Psalm 105:1, HCSB)

The first way is to thank God publicly. Just as a husband or wife can show appreciation to their spouse in public, I can show appreciation to God in public. I can talk well about God’s work in my life to others people. My public testimony is a form of thanks, and it shows God appreciation in front of others.

2. Sing to Him (Psalm 105:2)

“Sing to Him, sing praise to Him; tell about all His wonderful works!” (Psalm 105:2, HCSB)

The second way I can show appreciation to God is to worship Him. I can sing to Him. Just as a husband might serenade a wife, I can serenade God for His faithfulness. Again, this serenade can be public. I can tell others about the works that God has done.

I might tell others what my wife has done for me. I might sing her a love song. In the same way, I can serenade my Lord.

3. Honor His holy name (Psalm 105:3)

“Honor His holy name; let the hearts of those who seek Yahweh rejoice.” (Psalm 105:3, HCSB)

Another way I can appreciate God is to honor His name. This is ia mother way to witness about God to the lost people around me. Many people don’t honor God’s name. They shame it and defame it. To show my appreciation to God, I can take the time to defend God to others.

But it is to just about defending God’s name before the lost. I honor God’s name by the way I talk about His name. I can talk about Him with bitterness in my heart. I can share with others my disgust in the things God has not yet done for me that I had wished. This dishonors God.

On the other hand, I can talk about God with joy in my heart. I can speak lovingly about the ways God has been faithful to me. This is another way I can show my appreciation to God.    

4. Pray to Him (Psalm 105:4)

“Search for the Lord and for His strength; seek His face always.” (Psalm 105:4, HCSB)

Praying to God is also a form of appreciation. It shows that I need Him. I draw my strength from God. I seek His face for help when I don’t know what to do or when I feel helpless.

I appreciate my need for God when I pray to Him. Lack of prayer is a lack of appreciation to God. God is not emotionally needy like I am. I may get upset because I am not being shown appreciation. Yet, God doesn’t act this way to me. He is there ready to receive my prayer. Yet, He is not upset, mad, or whiny about the fact that I did not draw upon His strength.

God doesn’t complain that I didn’t come to Him today. He doesn’t send me a text and ask “Where are you, Jim?” and “Why did you not talk to Me today, Jim?” God does not derive His self-worth from my appreciation. However, I derive my self-worth from His faithfulness. And I need to acknowledge that in prayer.

5. Remember His works (Psalm 105:5-6)

“Remember the wonderful works He has done, His wonders, and the judgments He has pronounced, you offspring of Abraham His servant, Jacob’s descendants—His chosen ones.” (Psalm 105:5–6, HCSB)

The last way I show appreciation is when I take the time to remember Him. I take the time to reflect on the good works God has done for me. The Lord has done wonders in my life. God has passed good judgments of grace and mercy in my life. He has chosen me. Parents appreciate it when their child reminds them of the great times they had because of the parent’s efforts. God does too. He appreciates hearing the same thing from me.

All of these actions are ways to show appreciation. They are also the essence of our worship to God. It gives God the glory due to Him because of the works He has done (Psalm 105:5).

“Remember the wonderful works He has done, His wonders, and the judgments He has pronounced,” (Psalm 105:5, HCSB)

Prayer: I want to show appreciation to You God, for the work You have done in my life. Thank you, God, for Your faithfulness.

Photo by Cassidy Kelley on Unsplash