“Let us come before His presence with thanksgiving,
Let us shout joyfully to Him with psalms.
For the Lord is a great God
And a great King above all gods…”
Psalm 95:2-3
For me, this time of year is special for many reasons. It’s the football, fellowship, friends, fires, family, and of course, really, really good food.
In reality, as a Christian, what I’m experiencing this time of year is a sense of gratitude. In the midst of all the brokenness, unmet expectations, and much more, an overwhelming sense of plenty begins to take shape in this season.
Just this morning, I walked outside on a cold East Texas morning to see a beautiful sunrise greeting. Cows were grazing in the pasture, as the evergreen pine trees stood in stark contrast to the multicolored clouds changing their hues as the sun slowly peeked its head above the eastern horizon.
Yet, deeper down, I feel a sense of completeness as a Christian amid the ebbs and flows of a world unrelentingly connected. In a culture of intrigue, distraction, options, good news, and terrible news, there is a real objective reason to be thankful.
This leads me to A Thanksgiving Thought:
The Psalmist above offers us both instructions to God’s people on how to approach God and why He should be approached.
- How? Thanksgiving and joy.
- Why? God is great and above all gods.
How?
Without hesitation, the Psalmist says to come before God’s presence with thanksgiving, lifting shouts of joy. Being thankful and shouting with joy may or may not be motivated by circumstance. However, we’re frequently inclined to give thanks as the occasion arises. In other words, we express gratitude when we feel like it and don’t when we lose our “sense” of thankfulness.
The Psalmist does not give God’s people that option. Instead, the invitation into God’s presence comes with an expectation of gratefulness.
Why?
The reasons for this expectation are many, yet the Psalmist offers two. He declares that God is great and above all gods. In other words, God is distinct, unlike all of His creation. His supreme character and position of authority are identified as the two unique qualities that justify our gratitude as we enter God’s presence. What does this mean?
God’s greatness is His supreme magnificence above all things. In other words, there is none like Him. Second, God is above all gods, implying that His supreme power is beyond all powers and authorities, both in heaven and on earth. He alone is God, and, as the Psalmist continues, “…we are the people of His pasture and the sheep of His hand.”
Gospel Application
When God sent His Son, Jesus Christ, His mission was simple: to display His greatness by becoming weak and to express His authority by becoming condemned, so that He might break the power of sin and death, enabling rebellious humans to be reconciled to the one true holy God. This sounds opposite to what we would expect. Why would the Creator God with ultimate power become weak and submissive? The only answer is to reverse and redeem the curse of sin and offer blessing and reconciliation.
God set aside His greatness and authority in Christ that we might eternally enter His presence with thanksgiving and offer shouts of praise by grace through faith.
Practically, this means we have reason to be glad, no matter our circumstances. We have reason to praise no matter our situation!
Thus, the apostle Paul declares, “Not that I speak from want, for I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am. I know how to get along with humble means, and I also know how to live in prosperity; in any and every circumstance I have learned the secret of being filled and going hungry, both of having abundance and suffering need. I can do all things through Him who strengthens me” Philippians 4:11-13.
God help us to be ever-grateful! Amen.
— November 27, 2025