FAITH AND REFLECTION -- For years I have been telling people (including myself) that mountain climbing over molehills is not good. We should not inflate and blow out of proportion the smaller details and dilemmas of life until we feel overwhelmed by them. However, it is sometimes not just needful, but appropriate to enlarge or “magnify.”
David, the Psalmist, wrote, “I will praise the name of God with song and magnify Him with thanksgiving.” (Psalm 69:30) What does it mean to magnify God? And how does the giving of thanks accomplish that?
There are two devices that can be employed to magnify things; magnifying glasses and telescopes. A magnifying glass makes things appear larger than they really are. A telescope brings large things into closer view, allowing us to see more clearly the true size and shape of the object. David’s intent in Psalm 69 is telescopic not microscopic. The magnification that he is speaking of allows for us to bring into proper perspective and see more accurately, the nature, the immensity and the significance of God. And a heart of gratitude, as exhibited by the giving of thanks, is what puts the telescope into our hands and helps us to focus in on God. This “telescope” will not fully reveal God’s immensity and attributes, but it reminds us that He has given us far more than we have ever thanked Him for.
A little girl sat down to eat supper with her family. She noticed that they were being served leftovers from the night before. Her father asked her to give thanks for the meal and she responded petulantly, “Wait a minute … we thanked God for this food last night!” The giving of thanks should be heartfelt, practiced and perennial and it can be repetitive – there is nothing wrong with thanking God for the same thing more than once.
An attitude of gratitude should be characteristic of Christians. Pastor Kent Crockett provided a good outline for Christian thankfulness. He said that “thankfulness acknowledges that God is our provider, prevents a complaining spirit, creates a positive outlook on life and invites joy to dwell in our hearts.”
There is something else we need to know about the giving of thanks … not only does it magnify God, but it enlarges us. Figuratively and spiritually speaking, we become bigger or smaller in direct proportion to our thankfulness.
Thanksgiving can have a practical and remarkable impact upon us. In Psalm 35:27 Asaph provides a description of thankful people. He says that they “shout for joy, and are glad” and they “say continually, let the LORD be magnified, Who has pleasure in … His servant.”
“O magnify the Lord … and Let us exalt His name.” (Psalm 34:3) Have a magnificent and magnified Thanksgiving weekend.