You might not have heard of Heman and Jeduthun. They’re some of the Bible’s more inconspicuous characters. In the wonderful worship choirs of King David, they were appointed to give thanks. Heman and Jeduthun were under the king’s authority (see 1 Chronicles 25:6). It was literally their job. And it’s our job too! We’re under the authority of the King of Kings who commands us to ‘be thankful’, ‘offer to God thanksgiving’, ‘come before His presence with thanksgiving’, ‘enter into His gates with thanksgiving’, and ‘in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you’ (Colossians 3:15; Psalms 50:14; 95:2; 100:4; 1 Thessalonians 5:18 NKJV). Eugene Peterson writes, ‘The real believers are the ones the Spirit of God leads to work away at this ministry, filling the air with Christ’s praise’ (Philippians 3:3 MSG). Nothing is more thrilling than being moved so much that we spring into spontaneous worship. And it doesn’t matter what our style of worship is – whether we lift up our hands, cry out, laugh, sing, dance, whatever – if we do it in a spirit of praise, thanksgiving, and gratefulness, God will absolutely love it. Praise and thanksgiving can also bring peace to a troubled heart and tranquillity to an anxious mind. The Creator of our souls is a master psychologist. He knows that thanksgiving is not only appropriate, but therapeutic. It’s hard to be thankful and at the same time be grumpy, critical, or bad tempered. Let’s choose to overflow with thanksgiving. ‘Shout to the LORD, all the earth. Serve the LORD with joy; come before him with singing…Come into his city with songs of thanksgiving and into his courtyards with songs of praise…The LORD is good. His love is forever, and his loyalty goes on and on’ (Psalm 100:1-5 NCV).

What Now?

Most of us don’t praise God enough, so today, set reminders on your phone to praise God at least once an hour throughout the day.