Continuing in Thankfulness

Although the Thanksgiving season has passed, God's people are to remember His blessings and give thanks continually. The Jewish Passover feast commemorated the night when the Lord spared His people in Egypt. The death angel "passed over" the homes marked with the blood of the lamb (Exodus 12:23). Even today, Jewish families gather to remember. Much like our Thanksgiving, Passover is a time to remember what God has done.

One of the most beloved traditions of Passover is the singing of Dayenu. The word means, "That would have been enough for us." This song of gratitude lists fifteen miracles of God's deliverance during the Exodus. After each miracle, the people sang, "Dayenu"—even if God had stopped there, it would have been enough. The poetry of the song builds faith, moving from one miracle to the next, reminding the people that if God has done these things before, He can do them again. 

Centuries later, Asaph, the chief musician, wrote Psalm 77. He was in a dark time and felt as though God was silent. Asaph reminded himself of God's mighty acts (verses 11-20). His faith was strengthened by meditating on and telling others what God had already done.

It is too easy to focus on what we do not have. Doing that leads to unthankfulness. We must cultivate gratitude by recounting the miracles in our lives. With thankful hearts, let us sing our own Dayenu. It will encourage and strengthen our faith.

—Sister  Sheri Strelecky

"Count your many blessings, name them one by one, and it will surprise you what the Lord has done!"