I will give thanks to the Lord with all my heart (Psalm 9:1).

David’s praise is all given to the Lord. Praise is to be offered to God alone; we may be grateful to the intermediate agent, but our thanks must have long wings and mount aloft to heaven.

There is true praise to the thankful telling forth to others of our heavenly Father’s dealings with us. This is one of the themes upon which the godly should speak often to one another, and it will not be casting pearls before swine if we make even the ungodly hear of the loving-kindness of the Lord to us.

Gratitude for one mercy refreshes the memory as to thousands of others. One silver link in the chain draws up a long series of tender remembrances. Here is eternal work for us, for there can be no end to the showing forth of all his deeds of love. If we consider our own sinfulness and nothingness, we must feel that every work of preservation, forgiveness, conversion, deliverance, and sanctification which the Lord has wrought for us is a marvelous work. Even in heaven, divine loving-kindness will doubtless be as much a theme of surprise as of rapture.

Gladness and joy are the appropriate spirit in which to praise the goodness of the Lord. Birds extol the Creator in notes of overflowing joy, the cattle low forth his praise with tumult of happiness, and the fish leap up in his worship with excess of delight. He whose name is Love is best pleased with the holy mirth, and sanctified gladness of his people.

Daily rejoicing is an ornament to the Christian character, and a suitable robe for God’s children to wear. God loves a cheerful giver, whether it be the gold of his purse or the gold of his mouth which he presents upon his altar.