Taking Inventory

It’s about that time.  Soon businesses everywhere will be tackling that annual chore of inventory. Taking inventory is a boring process to some, but not to God’s people. In fact, it is a great way to worship. The nation of Israel took inventory of God’s goodness through the years. They recorded these events in a song or responsive reading.  A worship leader would sing of God’s wonder and the rest of the assembly would chant back a refrain. This musical history helped Israel remember God’s goodness and to thank him for it.  We get a little taste of a praise history in Psalm 136.

Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good! His faithful love endures forever.   Give thanks to him who made the heavens so skillfully. His faithful love endures forever.  He brought Israel out of Egypt. His faithful love endures forever. Give thanks to him who parted the Red Sea. His faithful love endures forever. Give thanks to him who struck down mighty kings. His faithful love endures forever. He remembered our utter weakness. His faithful love endures forever. He saved us from our enemies. His faithful love endures forever. He gives food to every living thing. His faithful love endures forever.  Give thanks to the God of heaven. His faithful love endures forever. (Psalm 136 NLT)

On this Thanksgiving Day we would do well to take a lesson from the Israelites. Pause for a few moments and take inventory. Think about all God has done for you.  List these acts of his goodness and then write your own praise history. Here is a little piece of mine:

Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good. His faithful love endures forever. He saved me at just eleven years of age. His faithful love endures forever. He replaced my bad temper with a more patient heart. His faithful love endures forever. He provided great leaders and mentors to guide me. His faithful love endures forever. He has given me an incredible wife. His faithful love endures forever. He has blessed me with loving children. His faithful love endures forever. He has carried me through lean times. His faithful love endures forever. He protected me from many a fall. His faithful love endures forever. Give thanks to the God of heaven. His faithful love endures forever.

There is more “thanks” to my thanksgiving when I take inventory of all God has done for me.

FOCAL POINT: Take inventory and write your own praise history. Recite it to God as a way of thanking him this Thanksgiving Day!

Copyright © 2009 Tommy Kiedis