When all the Israelites saw the fire coming down and the glory of the Lord above the temple, they knelt on the pavement with their faces to the ground, and they worshiped and gave thanks to the Lord, saying, “He is good; his love endures forever.” (2 Chronicles 7:3)
After Solomon finished praying to the Lord, a fire from heaven consumed the offerings, and the glory of the Lord filled the Temple. What an incredible experience that must have been! The response of the people at that point is worth noting: they bowed to the ground and gave thanks. It seems like our response to the presence of the Lord should be the same.
First, we bow down because we recognize that we are nothing in comparison with Him. He is above all things, and He is worthy of our surrender and our praise. There is no being greater than Him.
Secondly, we give thanks because He has not consumed us like He did with the offering on the altar. God could consume us in an instant (as the Israelites must have surely recognized from their experience seeing his fire consume the sacrifice), but He doesn’t, and our response must be to offer our thanks for graciously allowing us to survive. Any blessing then that we experience in life is a gift from our Heavenly Father. What a great reminder for us as we approach the week of Thanksgiving!
Remember to express your gratitude to the Lord, not just for all He has done, but for who He is.
Lord, all I can do is stand before You with a heart of gratitude. You are the most amazing being ever. There is no creation greater than You because You created it all. Thank You for the ways You have so generously blessed me and my family. Thank You that You are the giver of all good gifts. Help me to have a heart of gratitude in all things.
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