Who God Is

Reading 1 Chronicles this morning and Chapter 29 made me pause.

Take a moment to read 1 Chronicles 29, especially verses 10-20. 

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Chronicles+29%3A10-20&version=NKJV

Look at the descriptive words used to talk about the Lord and all He does. Then re-read it and notice how many times, the idea that all we have comes from God. 

This may be a passage I take time to study deeper. But for now, I'll focus on the greatness of who God is.

Thanks Living: Assignment

To stand every morning to thank and praise the Lord, and likewise at evening. 1 Chronicles 23:30

To stand: present oneself before, be attentive, arise, appear

Morning:  implying the coming of dawn, and even daylight

Thank: to revere or worship (with extended hands)

Praise: to boast, to rave; to celebrate

Likewise: faithfulness, in the same manner as before

Evening: originally sunset

In 1 Chronicles 23, David makes Solomon king and gathers together the princes, priests, and Levites, to assign them their proper jobs. I like the assignment given to the Levites, to stand every morning to thank and praise the Lord—and do it again in the evening. 

Start the day thanking and praising God, and then end the day the same way. Beginning the day begun in thankfulness and praise will determine your mindset for the day. Ending the day with thanksgiving and praise will make you realize that God is working in and through you. 

How important is this assignment? Well, for David to have assigned it at all, shows that it is vital. Each and every morning and night, be attentive—specifically give thanks and praise to God. 

But what if I wake up on the wrong side of the bed, do I still have to thank and praise God? Especially on those mornings! For what better way to get an attitude adjustment, then to attentively thanks and praise God?! It's hard to have a bad attitude when thanking and praising Almighty God! 

Thanks Living is fully accepting the assignment of thanking and praising God each and every morning and night. A day that starts with thankfulness and praise will end on a high note!

Thanks Living: Puts Life Into Perspective

Therefore David blessed the Lord before all the assembly; and David said: "Blessed are You, Lord God of Israel, our Father, forever and ever. Yours, O Lord, is the greatness, the power and the glory, the victory and the majesty; for all that is in heaven and in earth is Yours;

Yours is the kingdom, O Lord, and You are exalted as head over all.

Both riches and honor come from You, and You reign over all. In Your hand is power and might; in Your hand it is to make great and to give strength to all. Now therefore, our God, we thank You and praise Your glorious name." 1 Chronicles 29:10-13

Blessed: adore with bended knees

Greatness:  mighty acts -- dignity, great things(-ness), majesty

Power: valor, victory -- force, mastery, might, mighty (act, power), strength

Glory: beautiful, brave, comely, fair, glorious, honor, majesty

Victory: eminence, always, constantly, end, nevermore, perpetual, strength

Majesty:  splendor, vigor, grandeur

Riches: wealth, far richer

Honor: splendor, glory, of external condition and circumstances

Thank: literally, to use (i.e. hold out) the hand; physically, especially to revere or worship (with extended hands—the open one—indicating power, means, direction, etc.)

Praise: make boast self, celebrate, commend

Glorious: splendor, majesty, vigor, grandeur

Name: especially as embodying the (revealed) character of

Thanks Living. When it begins with God, it puts life into perspective. 

Attention and acknowledgement of who God is + realizing that all we have is from God = thanksgiving and praise. 

To truly give thanks and praise to God, one must first begin with acknowledging who God is. For when one acknowledges who God is, it puts all of life into perspective. 

To truly give thanks and praise to God, one must realize that all is from God. For when one realizes that all come from God, it puts all of life into perspective. 

To truly give thanks and praise to God, one must make a point and determination to thanks and praise God. For when taking the time to thank and praise God, it puts all of life into perspective. 

Who is God. All we have is from God. Thank and Praise God. 

When done in that order, it puts life into perspective. For when one realizes all that God is capable of, and that He does, then thanks and praise should be automatic! Knowing that God is God and that He is in control puts life into perspective—God's perspective! 

How is God's perspective different than mine? Well, when I choose my perspective, I see only how things benefit me and what I can get out it all. I only want the good, the great, the blessings. I want the Lottery winnings. I want things to be easy. 

However, from God's perspective—life is good in the sense of how will it glorify Him and accomplish His will. His perspective includes all of Eternity, not just the here and now. 

Puts life into perspective. 

Attention and acknowledgement of who God is + realizing that all we have is from God = thanksgiving and praise. 

1 Chronicles 29:10-13: David said. A wonderful ascription of praise follows, tracing all good to Jehovah"s sovereign grace. E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes

Thanks Living. When it begins with God, it puts life into perspective.