Does God give good things to His children? The Bible tells us God is a remarkable Father. He not only supplies the needs of His family, but also wants to satisfy their wants. Psalm 84:11 states, "No good thing will He withhold from those who walk uprightly."

We are taught in Psalm 37:4, God will give you the desires of your heart. "Delight yourself in the Lord, and He will give you the desires of your heart."

The Bible is clear in teaching God wants us to have enough. He is our Shepherd and He says we do not have to be in need or lack (Psalm 23:1).

 Psalm 34:8, "O, taste and see that the Lord is good:  blessed is the man that trusteth in Him!"

Vs. 9...for those who fear Him lack nothing. (ESV)

The Lord is the Good Shepherd. He is also Almighty God, and will do the miraculous to bring the help we need. We need to ask, believe and walk uprightly before the Lord. Romans 8:32b, "How shall he not with him, also freely give us all things?" 

He wants to meet our needs. He also wants us to be able to share our surplus of food and clothing with the poor and people around us who have needs. 

I am reminded of my dad Rev. J.T. Campbell, who pastored in many churches for over fifty years. When he and my mother came to our home for Thanksgiving dinner, he would ask one of the grandchildren to read Psalm 100 just before we enjoyed our meal.

"Make a joyful noise unto the Lord, all ye lands. Serve the Lord with gladness: come before his presence with singing. Know ye that the Lord he is God: it is he that hath made us and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture. Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name. For the Lord is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations."

Let me encourage you to be a humble person and to daily express your gratitude to the Lord for his faithfulness. May He bless you!

Our thoughts turn to the word "thanksgiving" as we approach our national holiday of Thanksgiving. I hope we see this day not just as a calendar event, but as an opportunity to saturate ourselves with praise and thanksgiving. As we form habits to enter into thanksgiving and prayer, we tend to become people who worship God from within.

RESULTS OF PRAISE AND THANKSGIVING:

1.  Praise Opens the DOOR to Effective Prayer which Results in Deliverance: 

"Offer to God thanksgiving, And pay your vows to the Most High. Call upon Me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you shall glorify Me" (Psalm 50:14,15).

2.  Blessing, Praising, and Seeking the Lord Brings an End to Lack: 

"I will bless the Lord at all times: his praise shall continually be in my mouth. My soul shall make her boast in the Lord: the humble shall hear thereof, and be glad. O magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt his name together. The young lions do lack and suffer hunger; but they that seek the Lord shall not want any good thing" (Psalm 34:1-3,10).

3.  Praise to God Brings Increase:

"Let the people praise thee, O God; let all the people praise thee. Then shall the earth yield her increase; and God, even our own God, shall bless us. God shall bless us; and all the ends of the earth shall fear him" (Psalm 67:5-7).

4.  Praise with a Pure Heart Brings God's Salvation:

"Whoso offereth praise glorifieth me: and to him that ordereth his conversation aright will I show the salvation of God." In the Hebrew translation, the word "salvation" means:  liberty, deliverance, prosperity, safety (to be safe), to preserve, to get victory.

How can we as believers in the Lord Jesus Christ live a life of thanksgiving, which causes us to flow in praise and thankfulness? In the Old Testament verses, the Hebrew translation for praise and thanksgiving is the same. The real meaning given by the Holy Spirit warms our hearts as we are given insight into the thoughts of God.

PRAISE AND THANKSGIVING MEANS TO:

*Declare openly-confess freely 

*An extension of the hand - to revere or worship with extended hands 

*An adoration (a choir of worshippers) 

*Make a confession 

*Give an offering

In the New Testament, Philippians 4:6 states we are to present our requests (prayers and supplications) to God with thanksgiving. Then an amazing thing happens - the power of a thankful heart brings peace and guards our hearts and minds.