Pause

The best gifts are those received from someone who knows us well. These are the kinds of gifts that we celebrate with great gladness!

Take time to consider the gifts you have received from the One who knows you best, and celebrate God's great goodness and generosity.

Listen

How precious is your steadfast love, O God! All people may take refuge in the shadow of your wings.

They feast on the abundance of your house, and you give them drink from the river of your delights.

For with you is the fountain of life; in your light we see light.

O continue your steadfast love to those who know you, and your salvation to the upright of heart!

Psalm 36:7-10

Think

“No, no, I can do it,” I said to someone offering help — right before the bags I was balancing wound up on the ground. Have you ever tried to do something yourself, only to find you needed someone else’s help? Some of us have this tendency to assert our independence — even if it means failure. As humans, we weren’t made to be independent beings who never need anything from anyone, though. Particularly, we are dependent on God; we need God. We were not created to go through life alone.

The psalmist tells us that all of life depends on God’s lovingkindness. We depend on God for shelter, food, drink, life, and salvation. God loves us so much that the Lord faithfully provides for us in a way that causes the psalmist to worship and celebrate. That is the reason for this beautiful song of praise.

What are some of the other good gifts God has given you? How will you recognize your dependency on God’s gifts and show your thankfulness?

Laura Rector

Pray

God, I am dependent on your gifts for my very life. Thank you for such love! Amen.

Go

Open your heart now as you would a brightly-wrapped package,
Confident that the Giver of Life has provided you the greatest gift,
The gift of life.
Live today as a celebration, a time of giving back—
To God
And to all the world.