“I exalt you, my God the King, and praise your name forever and ever. I will praise you every day; I will honor your name forever and ever” (145:1,2). It is good, not only in eternity, but also every day, to praise God, to think about him, to talk with him, and just to dwell on him while giving him praise and thanksgiving. Our greatest reason for praise and thanksgiving, of course, is the salvation that our God has brought to us in his son. But, also, everywhere we look we find reasons to praise God and to give thanks to him. Just consider the beauty of the fall days we have had. And tomorrow is Thanksgiving Day when in a very focused manner we recall God’s goodness to us as we gather as families. I once read, in William Plumer’s commentary on the Psalms, that the person who wishes to praise God will never lack for a reason to do so. That person only needs to look around. Plumer is right!
Let ev’ry tongue Thy goodness speak,
Thou sovereign Lord of all;
Thy strength’ning hands uphold the weak,
And raise the poor that fall.
My lips shall dwell upon Thy praise,
And spread Thy fame abroad.
Let all the sons of Adam raise
The honors of their God. –Isaac Watts (18th century)