Choose Thankfulness (Daily Refresh, 10-02-25)

For years, nothing in King David’s life looked “good.” His family underestimated him, giants despised him, and his father-in-law spent years trying to kill him. But the whole time, David clung to a promise that God would establish him, and eventually make him king of Israel. 

David never gave up or gave in—he chose to stay close to God and wait for Him to act. And when God showed up, this is how David responded:

“Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his love endures forever.”
1 Chronicles 16:34 NIV

David knew that even when life didn’t look good, he served a God who IS good. And this same God is still actively fighting for us now.

Through His Son, Jesus, He has given us continual access to Himself. We can never lose His unfailing love toward us—a love that endures forever, no matter what goes on around us.  

David recognized this, and proclaimed it. And every day, we have the opportunity to do the same. 

Here are 2 practical ways that we can respond to God’s goodness and love:

– THANK HIM IN PRAYER
When Jesus was teaching His disciples to pray, he told them to start like this: “Our Father in heaven, help us to honor Your name.” It’s fine to ask God for things, but real relationships include both giving and taking. So at least once a day for the next week, go to God in prayer and thank Him for something He’s done—without asking Him for anything in return. 

– SHARE YOUR STORY
The writer of Hebrews encourages us to honor God by “proclaiming our allegiance to His name.” (Hebrews 13:15-16) So what has God done for you? Where have you seen Him provide, protect, show up, or show off through your life? Look for natural opportunities to share what God is doing in you with someone else. 

Right now, reflect on your life and thank God for His eternal goodness. Nothing you have faced or will face is too much for the God who loves you and died for you. Bring Him your concerns, surrender your expectations, choose thankfulness, and allow Him to reveal the evidence of His goodness in your life.

My Thoughts

I am really thankful that God’s love is always there for me, in the early morning hours and in the late night ones, too. This has been a season that has been different for me. I am the one who picks up dropped items because I am still limber enough to do so. I feed the cat, get her clean water, scoop her litter. All of which requires bending over and stretching. But, then, I broke my foot. What does that have to do with bending? Honestly, I don’t know how it all works together, but I know that it does because since I have been in my boot, I cannot bend over more than a few inches without severe back pain. I can only sleep a few hours without getting up, stretching and awkwardly shuffling around due to the pain in my back. Yes, my foot throbs some, but it is my back that has been giving me fits. I get up early and sit with the heating pad to ease some of the aching. But through it all, God has been close. He lifts me up and comforts me. He is always good and His love is always right there, reaching out to me.

Unlike David, I don’t have enemies pursuing me or a giant to slay. I dare say that you don’t either. Nevertheless, we each have our own daily struggles. This month it’s my foot and my back. Next month it may be something else. (As they say, getting older is not for the faint of heart.) But I know that I know that just as God has carried me this far, He will continue to carry me to the end.

I thought about being thankful and realized that very seldom do I just stop and thank the Lord without also asking for something along with my gratitude. I plan to change that and start just thanking Him, and then being quiet. After all, do we really feel that someone has been thankful when in the first breath they thank us and then the next one they ask for something else? If all I learned this morning is to just stop and say thank you to God, then that is enough.