WISDOM FOR LIVING DAILY DEVOTIONAL
AUGUST 20, 2022
TOPIC: WHAT CAN I OFFER THE LORD FOR ALL HE HAS DONE FOR ME?
BY T. O. BANSO
“What can I offer the LORD for all he has done for me?” (Psalm 116:12 New Living Translation).
Thanksgiving is one thing that believers must be reminded of from time to time to do. It can’t be overemphasized. This is more so than 1 Thessalonians 5:18 says, “In everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you” (New King James Version). Good thinkers are good thanks-givers.
The psalmist asks a very important question in Psalm 116:12: “What shall I render to the LORD for all His benefits toward me?” (New King James Version). The New Living Translation puts it thus: “What can I offer the LORD for all he has done for me?” This is a good way to think every day as a grateful child of God. It’s not to complain or accuse God of the challenges of life.
The psalmist went ahead to answer this question. We can learn from the psalmist’s answer as we thank God for all He has done for us. The psalmist mentioned what he would do, in verses 13-14: “For all His benefits toward me? I will take up the cup of salvation, and call upon the name of the LORD. I will pay my vows to the LORD Now in the presence of all His people” (New King James Version).
From the psalmist’s answer, I’ve identified three things we can offer to the Lord for all that He has done for us.
1. Give an offering of thanks to the Lord to appreciate Him. You can’t pay Him for all that He has done for you, but you can show appreciation. Verse 17 of our main text, Psalm 116, says, “I will offer to You the sacrifice of thanksgiving” (New King James Version). You can give to the Lord an offering of thanksgiving. I’m not talking of verbal appreciation of the Lord but giving material things to thank Him. Amos 4:5a says, “Offer a sacrifice of thanksgiving with leaven, proclaim and announce the freewill offerings” (New King James Version). Offer your money or any material thing as a sacrifice of thanksgiving (Psalm 107:22a).
2. Pray to the Lord. Obviously, the prayer here is not that of making requests, but of thanksgiving. Thank God verbally with words and songs. Express your appreciation to the Lord verbally. Mention specific things He has done for you and thank Him. Sing to the Lord with thanksgiving (Psalm 147:7). The psalmist says in verse 13b of Psalm 116 that he will “praise the Lord’s name for saving me” (New Living Translation).
3. Pay your vows without delay. The psalmist says he will pay his vows to the LORD “now” in the presence of all His people (Psalm 116:14, 18). In Psalm 22:25, David says he will pay his vows before those who fear the LORD.
Vows are not compulsory, but once you make them, you should fulfill them. The Bible forbids failure to redeem your vows (Deuteronomy 23:21-23; Numbers 30:1-2; Ecclesiastes 5:4-6; Psalm 76:11; Proverbs 20:25). Psalm 50:14 says, “Offer to God thanksgiving, and pay your vows to the Most High” (New King James Version). Have you paid your vows to the Lord?
What have you offered to the Lord for all He has done for you? Always give thanks for everything (Ephesians 5:20). Enter His gates with thanksgiving (Psalm 100:4). Come before His presence with thanksgiving; shout joyfully to Him with psalms or hymns of thanks  (Psalm 95:2). Magnify Him with thanksgiving. David says, “I will praise the name of God with a song, and will magnify Him with thanksgiving” (Psalm 69:30 New King James Version).
TAKE ACTION!
If you are not born again, you need to give your life to Jesus now. I urge you to take the following steps: *Admit that you are a sinner and you cannot save yourself and repent of your sins. *Confess Jesus as your Lord and Saviour. *Renounce your past way of life – your relationship with the devil and his works. *Invite Jesus into your life. *As a mark of seriousness to mature in the faith, start attending a Bible-believing and Bible-teaching church. There they will teach you how to grow in the Kingdom of God.
Kindly say this prayer now: O Lord God, I come unto You today. I know I am a sinner and I cannot save myself. I believe that Jesus is the Son of God who died on the cross to save me and God raised Him on the third day. I repent of my sins and confess Jesus as my Lord and Saviour. I surrender my life to Jesus now and invite Him into my heart. By this prayer, I know I am saved. Thank You, Jesus, for saving me and making me a child of God.
I believe you have said this prayer from your heart. Congratulations! You will need to join a Bible-believing and Bible-teaching church in your area where they will teach you how to live your new life in Christ Jesus. I pray that you flourish like a palm tree and grow like a cedar of Lebanon. May you grow into Christ in all things and become all God wants you to be. I will be glad to hear from you. The Lord be with you.
PRAYER POINTS: Father, I thank You for all You’ve done for me and my family. I thank You for healing, protection, deliverance, and provision. Thank you for Your guidance and leadership. I am grateful for what money can buy that you have done for me and, especially, for what money cannot buy. Thank you for everything You have done for me.
(For over 800 in-depth and powerful messages by T. O. Banso, visit www.cedarministry.org).
T. O. Banso is the President of Cedar Ministry International, Abuja, Nigeria.
Phone No: +2348155744752, +2348033113523
WhatsApp No: +2349081295947
Email: cedarministryintl@yahoo.com,
cedarministryng@gmail.com
Website: www.cedarministry.org
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