Sit Before the Lord to Thank Him Forever
Scripture Reading: 1 Chronicles 17: 1–17
“And David the king came and sat before the Lord, and said, Who am I, O Lord God, and what is mine house, that thou hast brought me hitherto?,” 1 Chronicles 17:16.
Sit Before the Lord to Thank Him Forever
Father God, we thank you for your unfailing love, that it is reliable and unconditional. Your love is the same yesterday, today, and forever. Lord, we pray for the grace to have an attitude of gratitude. May we not take your love for granted.
David said in his heart that he wanted to build a house for God. “Now it came to pass, as David sat in his house, that David said to Nathan the prophet, Lo, I dwell in an house of cedars, but the ark of the covenant of the Lord remaineth under curtains. Then Nathan said unto David, Do all that is in thine heart; for God is with thee. And it came to pass the same night, that the word of God came to Nathan, saying, Go and tell David my servant, Thus saith the Lord, Thou shalt not build me an house to dwell in: For I have not dwelt in an house since the day that I brought up Israel unto this day; but have gone from tent to tent, and from one tabernacle to another. Wheresoever I have walked with all Israel, spake I a word to any of the judges of Israel, whom I commanded to feed my people, saying, Why have ye not built me an house of cedars? Now therefore thus shalt thou say unto my servant David, Thus saith the Lord of hosts, I took thee from the sheepcote, even from following the sheep, that thou shouldest be ruler over my people Israel,” 1 Chronicles 17:1–7.
When God promotes us many forget from whence we came and that He relates to us in our totality. God knew who David was, that he had been sent away by his father to mind sheep while his brothers he saw fit for the army and high places. David was sent to the backyard but God recognized him as a man after His own heart because of his humility. Because he praised God even as a shepherd, God made him a ruler. David had an attitude of gratitude; something we should covet. As soon as we are promoted, many of us forget; it is like we have always been up here. It is God’s mercy that brought you out of your mother’s womb. It is God’s mercy that has preserved you all these years to become the great person you are. I pray that as a child of God you will cultivate an attitude of gratitude.
“And I have been with thee withersoever thou hast walked, and have cut off all thine enemies from before thee, and have made thee a name like the name of the great men that are in the earth. Also I will ordain a place for my people Israel, and will plant them, and they shall dwell in their place, and shall be moved no more; neither shall the children of wickedness waste them any more, as at the beginning, And since the time that I commanded judges to be over my people Israel. Moreover, I will subdue all thine enemies. Furthermore, I tell thee, that the Lord will build thee an house. And it shall come to pass, when thy days be expired that thou must go to be with thy fathers, that I will raise up thy seed after thee, which shall be of thy sons; and I will stablish his kingdom. He shall build me an house, and I will establish his throne for ever. I will be his father, and he shall be my son: and I will not take my mercy away from him, as I took it from him that was before thee: But I will settle him in mine house and in my kingdom for ever: and his throne shall be established for evermore.
According to all these words, and according to all this vision, so did Nathan speak unto David,” 1Chronicles 17:8–15.
David is such an example of gratitude: “Who am I, O Lord God, and what is mine house, that thou hast brought me hitherto?,” verse 16. He is saying, I have no name, I am nothing, my house is not known, but you have brought me this far. “And yet this was a small thing in thine eyes, O God; for thou hast also spoken of thy servant’s house for a great while to come, and has regarded me according to the estate of a man of high degree, O Lord God,” verse 17. He says You have brought me this far, and have made me king, that is enough, but in addition you promise to bless my generations.
David sat before God, not to complain or report a personal problem, but to say thank you. How many times have you sat before God purely to thank Him? I encourage you to resolve to sit before God, for He blesses the grateful, but the proud He demotes and puts far away, Psalm 138:6. Whenever you think you are important, know the devil is setting you up for demotion.
Giving thanks is one of the reasons we organize Worship His Majesty King Jesus, that the grateful people will come to say “Thank you” to a great God. I pray that if you are feeling bad about your life, thank God that you are alive. Cultivate an attitude of gratitude and He will bless you.
Prayer Points:
If you have never given your life to Jesus, pray along with me now, “Lord Jesus, I come before you just as I am. I surrender my life to you. Write my name in the book of life and give me the grace to sit at your feet and give you thanks, in Jesus’ name.”
