Bless the Lord, my soul,
And all that is within me, bless His holy name.
Bless the Lord, my soul,
And do not forget any of His benefits;
Who pardons all your guilt,
Who heals all your diseases;
Who redeems your life from the pit,
Who crowns you with favor and compassion;
Who satisfies your years with good things,
So that your youth is renewed like the eagle.
Psalm 103:1-5
Giving thanks is a spiritual discipline. How did you react when you first read that statement? I suspect more than a few of you might be a bit puzzled by it. Thanksgiving for many people is thought of as a duty. We ought to give thanks, so we muster up the energy to fulfill our obligation especially at this time of year. Others see thanksgiving as something that’s entirely dependent on their circumstances. If life is going well, then they will give thanks. Otherwise, probably not.
So the idea of viewing thanksgiving as a spiritual discipline seems foreign to us. Much of our problem centers on our understanding of the word discipline. Images of being sent to your room or standing in the corner come to mind. We were being disciplined or punished for some wrong doing. So the whole idea of seeing thanksgiving as a discipline just doesn’t work for us.
But like all spiritual disciplines, the spiritual discipline of thanksgiving is for the training of our souls. They are means that open our souls to the life-giving work of God. As such, disciplines are gifts from God. They are His loving invitations to a richer and more substantive life.
As for the discipline of thanksgiving, the Psalmist helps us to understand why we need it. In verse 2 he challenges us to not forget God’s benefits. Unfortunately, being forgetful is common to all of us. In the everyday stresses and strains of life, it’s easy to become so focused on what’s bad that we no longer see the good. This is why the spiritual discipline of thanksgiving is so needed. It gives us an opportunity to see the hand of God at work in our lives for good regardless of our current circumstances.
By intentionally focusing on the many benefits we have received from God, we train our souls to pay more attention to them. The more attention they receive, the more precious and real they become to us. While we may still have some genuinely challenging issues to face, the spiritual discipline of thanksgiving keeps us balanced and protects us from excessive despair. Even in the worst of circumstances, God is at work bringing His gracious benefits to our lives.
So let me encourage you to practice this discipline on a regular basis. Thanksgiving helps us to remember that even in the worst of times, God’s goodness is still very much around us. I hope each of you have a very happy Thanksgiving Day.