“O give thanks unto the LORD; for He is good: for His mercy endureth for ever.”  Psalm 136:1 (KJV).

For the following 25 verses of this Psalm it says, “…For His mercy endureth forever”.  The Psalmist wants us to know that God’s mercy endures forever.  You and I know that “Forever” is a very long time.  As a matter of fact the thought of God’s mercy enduring forever is to assure us that it never ends.

In the first thought of this verse we learn to be thankful.  Thankfulness is often missing in our lives.  There is much sickness in many families.  There are many family tragedies.  There is financial chaos.  Sometimes being thankful and grateful to our creator is the farthest thing from our minds.

Let’s try this challenge, though;  the next time you start feeling like the world is weighing down on your shoulders; the next time the doctor tells you things don’t look good; the next time you want to complain: offer God a word of thanks.

Thank Him for the things He has made.  Thank Him for the breath of air you just inhaled, and exhaled.  Thank Him for that step you just took, and even if you are in a wheelchair, thank Him for the next roll of the wheel.  Thank Him for that next beat of your heart.  If we would just look beyond our problems we can see much to be thankful for.

When you start being thankful, and you are trusting the Lord more fully, then you might even get to the place where you are thanking Him that He is working in your trials for your good and His glory.

Thank YOU Father.

-Tim A. Blankenship