The Power of Thank-Yous
One of the things I teach about stewardship is to write thank-you notes. When we are working on yearly budgets, we often forget to thank the folks who make the budget possible. Your best givers in a church are often not the wealthiest. However, they are the ones who hear God’s call to share the loudest. The same is true with volunteers. Think about who does the most in your church. They serve the church because they love the church and its people, but the aching question remains – are they ever thanked?
Psalms 9 and 10 are different from many that talk about hardships and difficulties. These two psalms begin with deep confidence and praise to God. The author recognizes that even in the midst of trials, God does wonderful things, and the proper response is to give thanks. Psalm 9 says that not only has God performed things like delivering His people from Egypt, sustaining them in the wilderness and giving them the Promised Land, but His deeds are personal as well. God shows His goodness in personal ways, and we are expected to do the same thing.
Saying thanks makes a lasting impact. When we take the time and energy to thank someone for a job well done or honor them with a gift, people remember that gesture. Psalm 9:1-2 says, “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.”
We may never be able to finish expressing our gratitude for all of God’s wonderful deeds, but we can start by thanking God in our prayers. We can remember to write thank-you notes to those who are giving to the church and to others. Saying “thank you” has a lasting effect!
Prayer – God, help us to acknowledge the countless and wonderful ways You work. Allow us to thank others for their service and their stewardship. Amen.
Psalm 9:1 – “I will give thanks to you, Lord, with all my heart; I will tell of all your wonderful deeds.”
By the Rev. Tommy Herndon
Images: Brett Jordan, Rene Bernal & Howie R., courtesy of Unsplash