Psalm 28:7 - The Lord is my strength and my shield; My heart trusted in Him, and I am helped; Therefore my heart greatly rejoices, And with my song I will praise Him. 

The Bible teaches us that God is our strength and our shield. He empowers our lives and protects us from the enemy, allowing us to confidently declare that the Lord is our helper. This fact should inspire us to respond with thanksgiving and praise. We need to honor God for what He has accomplished in our lives. Praising Him is not only about thanking Him for past deeds; it's also about expressing gratitude in advance for all that He will do.

You can declare today that the Lord is your strength and shield. No matter what you face, you do not have to endure it alone; He promises to provide strength. 

Hebrews 13:5-6 ... "I will never leave you nor forsake you." So we may boldly say: "The Lord is my helper; I will not fear. What can man do to me?" 

Giving praise and thanks to God brings power into your life. Thinking about the things you are grateful for can change your attitude, lift your spirits, and encourage your heart. Fostering a sense of thanksgiving can transform a dark situation into a brighter one and restore hope.

It takes no effort to complain about things going wrong; everyone can easily find faults to focus on. However, doing so will only lead to more discouragement.

Instead, follow the Bible's instructions and express gratitude for God's work in your life.

Psalm 106:1 - Praise the Lord! Oh, give thanks to the Lord, for He is good! For His mercy endures forever. 

1 Thessalonians 5:18 - in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. 

God's Word encourages us to give thanks because it benefits us. God is not insecure; He doesn't need everyone on Earth to tell Him how wonderful He is. He is worthy of our praise, and our gratitude blesses Him. Expressing thanks is an act of faith and reflects a grateful heart. I understand that it can be challenging to be thankful during difficult times. However, in those moments, we need to give thanks the most, and we do so by faith.

Hebrews 13:15 -  Therefore by Him let us continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name. 

The Bible refers to it as a "sacrifice of praise." Sometimes, offering praise and thanksgiving can feel like a sacrifice, especially when you're struggling or not feeling thankful. I encourage you to take a moment today to open your mouth and thank God. Thank Him for what you need, express gratitude for what He has already done, and praise Him for who He is. The rewards you will receive for this act of faith are immeasurable. As you pray the prayer below, I encourage you to make a list of some of those blessings and give Him praise.

Prayer
Heavenly Father, thank you for saying you would help me in my time of need. I thank you today for the many blessings in my life. I thank you that no matter what happens in my life, you will help me. I give thanks to you, for you are worthy to be praised! In Jesus' name, I pray, Amen.