So what reasons did we come up with, then?
We can rejoice in God because He is:
* faithful
* loving
* forgiving
* kind
* life-giving
* in complete control, working all things together for good
* just and fair
* omnipresent & always with us, never leaving us or forsaking us
* omniscient (yet loves us, even though He knows everything about us!)
* merciful
* compassionate
* unchanging
* slow to anger
* tender-hearted
* both transcendent and immanent (above all and yet close!)
* Saviour
* Healer
* Provider
* Protector
* the Creator
* our Shepherd & guide
* patient
* not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance
* peace & the bringer of peace
* relational (the triune nature of God reflects His heart for relationships)
* personal
* righteous
* the One who brings reconciliation
* our Defender
* preparing a place for us
* working in our lives to conform us to the image of Christ
* our Father
There are so many reasons to praise God and it’s good to list them, to remind ourselves of them, to have objective reasons for praise. That way, no matter what our mood or circumstance, we can give thanks continually for everything (see Eph 5:20 and 1 Thess 5:18)
One of my current favourite songs is Aaron Shust’s ‘Long Live the King’ which has the lines:
“There are always days when I don’t feel like singing
There are always days when I don’t care at all,
But I know the King of all Creation reigns completely
Over every moment, great and small.
Long live the One who gives us life and peace and hope for tomorrow.
He’s given everything we needed from the palm of His hand
I’ll give my everything to the One who pledged to cancel my sorrow,
All I have is Yours – Long live the King!”