Gratitude: A 5-day devotional from Brandon Lake. – “Thank you.” What a simple phrase, and yet, it carries such weight. Join me on a five-day deep dive into the purpose, power, and potential of thanking God through every season of our lives. Gratitude is a heart posture, and it impacts not only our own spirits, but the spirits of those around us. More importantly, it’s the most deserving gift we can offer to the Lord. Thanks for coming along, y’all.
Provident
Day 1
The Purpose of Gratitude
Scriptures: Psalm 9:1-2; Psalm 34:8; Luke 7:36-50
We sing “hallelujah,” because He is worthy. Period. What else do we have that’s fit for a King, aside from songs of gratitude being sung from deep within our lungs? When we remind ourselves of all that He’s done and when we actively choose thanksgiving, our hearts are softened to His spirit. Personally, “thank you” is my favorite prayer. It’s probably what I should pray the most, because when I look at my life, I have so much to be grateful for.
The Bible shows us countless accounts of people who lived with praise on their lips. David is a prime example of someone who generously lavished the Lord with thanksgiving, which can be found as a common theme throughout his prayers. Some of his words are found in Psalm 9:1-2: “I will give thanks to you, LORD, with all my heart; I will tell of all your wonderful deeds. I will be glad and rejoice in you; I will sing the praises of your name, O Most High.” While David did experience great blessings in his lifetime, he was also deeply acquainted with sorrow. He had been hunted by Saul and delayed in his kingship for fifteen years. He made mistakes which brought calamity on his head. And yet, he could still “taste and see that the LORD is good” (Psalm 34:8).
Another example is Mary, who quite literally poured out her praise with perfume on Jesus’ feet (Luke 7:36-50). Jesus did not ask her to do this, and in fact, the Pharisees who were present rebuked her for it. The cost of that perfume is estimated to have been more than a year’s wages, and yet, she poured it out because He is King, and He is worthy. What an inspiring gift. Whether it’s a grand gesture like this or simply a shout of praise, God is taken aback by our act of thanks.
Reflect:
1. How could you lavish your praise on the Lord this week? Get creative and come up with your own way of saying “hallelujah” to our King.
2. Whether you’re going through a storm or things are smooth sailing, thank God for the ways He has blessed you in the present and in the past. Reflect on the faithfulness He’s extended through every season.
Day 2
The Power of That Lion Inside Your Lungs
Scriptures: Genesis 1:3; Psalm 95:2; 2 Chronicles 20:1-29; Joshua 6:1-27
Declaration makes a difference. Truth breaks down barriers. Our praises usher life into effect, and our worship knocks down walls. Remember, God created the world with His words, saying “Let there be light” (Genesis 1:3). And remember that we are made in His image, so in the same way He spoke the universe into existence in six days, we can speak miracles into reality as sons and daughters.
In Psalm 95:2, the writer (likely David) said, “Let us come before Him with thanksgiving and extol Him with music and song.” That word, “extol,” means to praise enthusiastically. The original Hebrew word that was used in this verse is “rua,” which means to raise a shout or to give a blast. Often, the idea of “giving a blast” in the Bible is associated with sounding a signal for war or shouting in triumph over your enemies. We can see quite a few instances in the Bible where worship was used as a warfare tactic. In 2 Chronicles 20, we read that Jehoshaphat sought God’s guidance before going to war against the people of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir. The Lord told him to not be afraid and said, “For the battle is not yours, but God’s” (2 Chronicles 20:15). In response, Jehoshaphat and Jerusalem worshipped the Lord. Jehoshaphat then sent a group of men to lead the army, singing “Give thanks to the LORD, for His love endures forever” (2 Chronicles 20:21). Their enemies went to war against one another, and Jerusalem stood victorious as the Lord fought their battle.
We find a similar story in Joshua 6, which is where we read about Jericho. God told Joshua and his men to march around the city for six days, and then on the seventh day, they were to blow their trumpets and shout. Once again, His words were, “For the LORD has given you the city” (Joshua 6:16). The walls collapsed and the city was theirs. These stories remind us that our worship and our words hold more weight than we could ever imagine.
Reflect:
1. What walls need to be knocked down in your life, and/or what enemies do you need to conquer?
2. How can you practice praising your way through your next storm?
Day 3
The Potential of Persistency
Scriptures: Proverbs 18:21; Colossians 4:2-6; Luke 18:1-8; 1 Samuel 1:1-19; 1 Samuel 2:1
Persistency is key. Gratitude is not only the worthiest response to our King, but its persistent presence on our tongue makes a forever impact in our own lives. Physical, emotional, spiritual, and mental health are all affected by what we believe and speak over ourselves—meaning that a minute-by-minute mindset of gratitude has the potential to move and shake our personal world. According to prominent neuroscientist, Dr. Caroline Leaf, studies have even shown that thankfulness “increases our longevity, our ability to use our imagination, and our ability to problem-solve.” And Solomon, who was known for his great wisdom, said, “the tongue has the power of life and death” (Proverbs 18:21).
We see the idea of persistence in the Bible quite a bit. Paul and Timothy’s words to the Colossians are a powerful reminder: “Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful” (Colossians 4:2-6). The original Greek translation used the word, “proskartereó,” which means “to attend constantly.” Words like “steadfast” and “continually” are also related. Other examples of devotion in the Bible include the parable of the persistent widow, who kept coming back to the judge, time and time again, for justice to be served (Luke 18:1-8). It paid off and he finally answered her plea. In 1 Samuel, Hannah was known for her persistence in praying to the Lord for a son, and when He granted her desire, she lavished her thanks on Him, saying, “My heart rejoices in the LORD; in the LORD my horn is lifted high. My mouth boasts over my enemies, for I delight in your deliverance” (1 Samuel 2:1). We see the power of persistence, declaration, and gratitude closely intertwined throughout Scripture and scientific studies alike. The words, “thank you,” are two of the simplest and most profound words which can touch your lips, and I truly believe that one of the greatest ways we can thank God is to just praise Him again and again.
Reflect:
1. When was the last time you were persistent with something, and what was the outcome?
2. How can you incorporate constant thankfulness into your daily life? This could look like: creating a list of things you’re grateful for, thanking God out loud while on a walk, singing songs of gratitude, and more.
Day 4
Embracing a Posture of Praise
Scriptures: Psalm 100:4-5; Nehemiah 8-9
Every day, we are given the opportunity to realign our hearts with God’s faithfulness. Gratitude is a choice, a perspective, and a daily heart posture. We can speak to our soul to lift up a song. We can throw up our hands. We can get up and praise the Lord. These are each physical reflections of a heart singing “hallelujah.” They are mirror images of a posture that is bent toward praising our God.
The writer of Psalm 100 penned one of the most well-known passages on gratitude: “Enter His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise; give thanks to Him and praise His name. For the LORD is good and His love endures forever; His faithfulness continues through all generations” (Psalm 100:4-5). Sometimes it’s easy to praise God, but at times, our human nature causes us to doubt His goodness. The Israelites were the epitome of this push and pull perspective. God performed miracle after miracle before their eyes, and yet, they still found themselves doubting His provision, protection, and promise. Isn’t that so relatable in our own lives? But when Nehemiah rebuilt the wall of Jerusalem, the Israelites saw breakthrough after decades of struggling in exile, and they celebrated with more joy than they had possessed in years. Nehemiah encouraged them, “Stand up and praise the LORD your God, who is from everlasting to everlasting” (Nehemiah 9:5). His timing may look different than we would expect, but His goodness truly knows no end.
When the going gets tough, it’s crucial to have a strong spiritual foundation. This is where our heart posture comes into play. As we get up daily and unclench our fists, lift our praises, and sing hallelujah, our heart comes into closer and closer connection with God—and we eventually begin to feel the impact of our gratitude.
Reflect:
1. Reflect on a time that God has proven to be faithful in your life, even when you doubted His goodness.
2. What would a posture of praise look like in your day-to-day world?
Day 5
Praising in the Middle of Our Prisons and Promotions
Scriptures: Hebrews 13:9; 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18; Acts 16:25-40
As seasons change, God remains. His goodness never fails. He is the same “yesterday, today, and forever” (Hebrews 13:8). While every song must end and every season eventually comes to a close, God will never leave us nor forsake us. So, thank Him for His faithfulness, even when life itself ebbs and flows.
As we look to God’s word, what better example of this than Paul? This hero of the faith wrote to the Thessalonians, “Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus” (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18). This guy’s life was a living testimony of his own advice. He was the epitome of “walking the walk,” rather than simply “talking the talk.” Even when he was thrown in prison with Silas, he prayed and sang hymns to God—and get this, their choice to praise the Lord amidst their difficult circumstances is the very thing that caused the jailer and his whole household to come to God (Acts 16:25-40). Praise changes lives—and not just our own.
While it may be easier to praise God in the middle of our promotions, people are truly taken aback when we praise Him from within our prisons. But He is worthy regardless, because He is unchanging, and He’s with us no matter what. So, praise Him as you kick off each new year with hopeful resolutions and routines. Praise Him as the months plug along and you face prisons as well as promotions. Praise Him as you reflect on the past and prepare for the future. His power and His character never change, and for that, He deserves all the praise.
1. Are you going through a storm right now, and if so, what would it look like for you to praise God during this trying time?
2. Perhaps you’re in a period of promotion, or perhaps a season of stagnancy. What would it look like to turn your prayers into praise…every single day?
3. Who has God placed in your life to be watching you as you weather a storm, receive a promotion, or navigate a desert season? How can you impact them through your response?
