“Gratitude lies at the heart of a joyful and contented life.”
Thoughts from daily Bible reading for today – April 10, 2025
1 If it had not been the Lord who was on our side—
let Israel now say—
2 if it had not been the Lord who was on our side
when people rose up against us,
3 then they would have swallowed us up alive,
when their anger was kindled against us;
4 then the flood would have swept us away,
the torrent would have gone over us;
5 then over us would have gone
the raging waters. Psalm 124:1-5, ESV
Gratitude lies at the heart of a joyful and contented life. Sometimes, gratitude bursts forth from us in a spontaneous moment of elation, yet it can also be intentionally cultivated and deliberately pursued. In fact, spontaneous cries of thanksgiving, while to be celebrated when they come, are the exceptions to the norm. Most of life is lived in the “in-between,” and it is in these moments, ones that may feel routine and mundane, that we are invited to cultivate a posture of unwavering and steadfast gratitude to the Lord for his countless blessings.
This is the posture we see the people of God embrace throughout Scripture. At times, their thanksgiving and joy is a spontaneous eruption of praise, such as when the Lord parted the waters and led them out of Egypt into freedom. Yet there are other times in which they find themselves in a calm and reflective moment and take the intentional time to give thanks to God for his faithfulness in the past, knowing that it will sow seeds of gratitude in the present that grow into a future joy that cannot be shaken.
“If it had not been the Lord who was on our side…”
This is the refrain of Psalm 124, the cry of the heart of the Israelite people, and it is the Lord’s invitation to you and me today. Take this phrase and cherish it in your heart. Reflect on your own life story, the countless moments in which the unseen hand of the Lord guided you into safety, leading you into places of peace rather than despair and hopelessness. If the Lord were not on our side, all hope would indeed be lost. Yet thanks be to God, he is with us, is for us, and fights our battles when we are unable to take a single step.
Prayer
Father, thank you that you lead us and fight our battles for us. Fill us today with renewed gratitude for your care, protection, and love; we pray through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Application
Take a moment today to express gratitude to the Lord that he is with you and on your side.
Related Reading
Exodus 14:14; Isaiah 41:10; Romans 8:31
Worship Resource
CityAlight: The Lord is By My Side
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