Psalm 105:1-3

1Oh, give thanks to the Lord!
Call upon His name;
Make known His deeds among the peoples!
2Sing to Him, sing psalms to Him;
Talk of all His wondrous works!
3Glory in His holy name;
Let the hearts of those rejoice who seek the Lord!
-Psalm 105:1-3

As we are told throughout Scripture, we are to give thanks always. I used to teach through a subject like this relating the easy times to praise to being when things were going well, and the hard times to praise as when things are going poorly. I have since seen that praise, in its own way, is difficult in any given season. While times are hard, it can be difficult for we see through storm clouds. In seasons that things are going well, I have found forgetting the Lord is easy. When we forget the Lord, we forget to praise. This is all the more reason praise is necessary.

We must be purposeful with bringing praise before the Lord. We cannot be passive and wait until we feel thankful and then start praising. As far as having thankfulness in our hearts go, I find this to be a necessary practice with others as well. Practice thankfulness. Give praise to God. Learn to do it in the good seasons and the bad. It is sustaining, and it is life-giving.