The Fuel of Faith: Giving Thanks to the Lord for Your Past, Present & Future

David was a faithful worshipper of the Lord and it was that connection through praise that that set him apart from the earliest days of his life. David was supernaturally blessed by God, supernaturally protected, supernaturally provided for, and supernaturally sustained. It was that commitment to give thanks to the Lord in everything that carried him through all the days and seasons of his life and God honored it as He will also do in your life.

In Psalm 18, David, wrote his powerful and descriptive words as a record and a testimony of who God was to him in all the seasons of his life – past, present and future. Like David, you can determine to give thanks to God in all circumstances and as you do you’ll begin to see your life through God’s perspective and His vision will become your own!

Make Your Reasons to Give Thanks to the Lord Personal

David wrote Psalm 18 because giving thanks to the Lord was his natural response to God’s faithfulness. He had received promises from the Lord about his family, his kingdom and his legacy, yet David still had to walk through the Valley of the Shadow of Death several times to get there! Praise was David’s testimony of faith and God’s faithfulness.

This journey included the death of his best friend, the slaying of four giants, the burning of his village, betrayal, pain, fear and more, yet David saw his problems through the lens of God’s faithfulness. That made all the difference! He always remembered to stop and give thanks to the Lord. Even in his hardest times, he found reasons in his heart to be thankful to God.

Praise was David’s testimony of faith and God’s faithfulness.

~Alicia Purdy

Every believer has their own personal reasons to give thanks to God in their past, present and future, but in hard times, those reasons may be hard to think of. But entering His gates with thanksgiving in your heart is the key that opens the door to His presence and you’ll need that to keep your faith strong as you journey through your life!

THE PAST: Give Thanks to the Lord for What He Has Done

According to Psalm 18, David recalled the past events of his life and saw the hand of God upon him. God has always been faithful to His Word and when you align your life according to His will, the promises He made in His Word are yours – and He will stand by them.

Yet, even when you struggle – He is still faithful! As you look back on your own life through the lens of God’s faithfulness, mercy, love, salvation, power, and might, starting giving thanks to God for what He has done for you, just like David did. Gratitude is where all true worship begins and it is the secret to the fire of faith!

God has always been faithful to His Word and when you align your life according to His will, the promises He made in His Word are yours – and He will stand by them.

~Alicia Purdy

Read Psalm 18 and you will see the words of your own testimony from which you should give thanks to God!

Gratitude is the point of origin for all praise, but your reasons to praise the Lord will grow over time as the Lord gives you a “new song” for a new season where you’ve seen His faithfulness. (Psalm 40:1-3) Do you have eyes to see it? His mercies are new every morning” (Lam. 3:22-23) and even if it doesn’t “feel” that way, you must operate in faith in your praise, not by feelings!

THE PRESENT: Give Thanks to the Lord in All Circumstances Today

Psalm 50:23 says, “Whoever sacrifices a thank offering glorifies Me and makes a way; I will show him the salvation of God.” There’s nothing anyone could ever give the Lord that He needs, but there is something He desires today: Thanksgiving, expressed through worship. Why? Because praise and worship are how He connects with you on a deeper, spiritual level.

In Psalm 18, David’s journey was still unfolding, but as he looked around through the eyes of faith, he saw what you, too, can see when you fix your eyes on Jesus and determine to seek His perspective on the things in your life:

Scripturally speaking, gratitude is expressed in two ways: naturally and spiritually. Remember, the point of praise is to minister to the Lord spiritually from a heart of thanksgiving, and to express that praise naturally, through presenting your body as a living sacrifice to the Lord. These are not Sunday morning activities, but are daily acts of thanksgiving shown to the Lord that bring a deeper intimacy with Him.

Psalm 107:2 says, “Let the redeemed of the LORD tell their story, those He redeemed from the hand of the foe.” Worship without a physical, outward expression is incomplete. Yes, God knows your heart, but your outward expression of being thankful to the Lord in all circumstances – yesterday’s, today’s and tomorrow’s – is the living, flesh and blood, sacrifice of the New Covenant He desires.

THE FUTURE: Give Thanks to the Lord for What He Will do

In Psalm 18, David gave thanks to God, even though he hadn’t yet seen God’s promises fulfilled. But he saw them a long way off, and thanked the Eternal God for what he knew God would do, and you have the same promises:

2 Corinthians 9:10 says that the Lord will “multiply your seed sown” and “increase the fruit of your righteousness.” When you sow in faith by worshipping the Lord for His supernatural role in your future, not only will God multiple that seed, but He will also increase the fruit that grows from that seed because of your righteous act of faith!

Anyone can thank God when things are great, but giving thanks in hard times is a spiritual strength.

~Alicia Purdy

“…So you will be enriched in everything to all bountifulness which makes us give thanks to God,” Paul wrote. God will supply for all your needs (Philippians 4:19), but you have the responsibility to sow. If you sow a little, then the fruit of your faith will reflect that. (2 Corinthians 9:6) Worship fuels a strong faith.

Your first responsibility in the principle of supply is to sow in faith. The second is to give thanks. Paul said you “will be” enriched in everything. God is faithful to His promises! Anyone can thank God when things are great, but giving thanks in hard times is a spiritual strength! In fact, worshipping God in thanks, in faith, that He will do what He said He would do it what proves your faith is in Him.

Thought for today: Give Thanks to the Lord Before, Between and Behind

David spent time recalling the days of his life, and thinking about his future and walking in his present situations with a perspective of praise not because he was perfect, but because he had a grateful heart.

After he had reflected on the journey of his life, even into the future, he gave thanks to God for all of it, saying, “…Therefore I will give thanks to You, O Lord, among the nations, and sing praises to Your name.” (Psalm 18:49 MEV) All true worship begins with gratitude – not love.

God has a plan for your life, a future and a hope. (Jeremiah 29:11) You can look back and see Him. You can see Him right now if you have eyes to see. And you can know in faith He’s already in your future, because He said so in His Word. That is why you worship.

If you want that to be your testimony, then start testifying now. Your praise of the Lord is proof that His promises are true!

Grow Your Faith to Give Thanks to the Lord Even in Difficult Times:

A Story of Jonah and the Power of Praise Under Pressure

Don’t forget to pick up a copy of The Way of the Worshipper on Amazon – and AVAILABLE NOW you can also purchase The Way of the Worshipper: A Devotional Workbook for deeper study, personal examination and spiritual growth!