Heart Thanks and Praise

​With Thanksgiving upon us I want to give my thanks and praise to the Almighty God of creation who loves me like I was His only child. Through the years of my life, I have seen His constant faithfulness, and though I may not fully understand everything that He does, I trust Him because I see that "He has done immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine..." (Ephesians 3:20)
 
How does one give thanks and praise to the Lord? Psalm 22:3 says that God "Inhabits our praises," and that is my heart's desire. He made it clear to the prophet Samuel when he was going to anoint one of Jesse's sons to be king that appearance is not important to Him. "...The Lord does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart." (1 Samuel 16:7)
 
If God is looking at our hearts, what does He see? Hopefully, our hearts reflect Psalm 9:1. "I will praise you, O Lord, with all my heart. I will tell of all your wonders. I will be glad and rejoice in You; I will sing praises to Your name, O Most High." With the Psalmist, may we lift our hands to His Most Holy Place proclaiming, "The Lord is my strength and my shield, my heart trusts in Him, and I am helped. My heart leaps for joy, and I will give thanks to Him in song." (Psalm 28:7)
 
When I contemplate the best way to give thanks to the Lord, I feel inadequate in being able to fully express my gratitude. This past week I have been listening to Brandon Lake's song "Gratitude." The words do convey my feelings beautifully. May I suggest that you listen to the music with the words to get the full effect:
 
Verse 1:    "All my words fall short; I got nothing new. How could I express all my gratitude?"
Verse 2:    "I could sing these songs as I often do, but every song must end and you never do."
Chorus:     "So I throw up my hands and praise You again and again 'cause all that I have is a
Hallelujah. Hallelujah! And I know it’s not much, but I've nothing else fit for a king      except for a heart singing Hallelujah. Hallelujah!"
Verse 3:    "I've got one response. I've got just one move with my arm stretched wide;
       I will worship You.
Chorus:
Bridge:       "So come on my soul. O don't you get shy on me. Lift up your song 'cause you've
                    got a lion inside of those lungs. Get up and praise the Lord."
 
It is true that our words may seem inadequate, but when they are delivered from our hearts to the heart of God, He is well pleased. King David wrote Psalm 138 to express his thanks to the Lord. It is a good one for us to adopt: "I thank you Lord, and with all the passion in my heart I worship you in the presence of angels! Heaven's mighty ones will hear my voice as I sing my loving praise to You. I bow down before your divine presence and bring You my deepest worship as I experience Your tender love and Your living truth. For the promises of Your word and the fame of Your name have been magnified above all else!" (Psalm 138:1-3 - TPT)