When was the last time you were just thankful for what you have? Maybe they’re small things, things you only know about. Things that just take your breath away whenever you think about them. Let’s take a moment to give thanks.
Thankful, has become my go-to feeling lately. Not only in my life but in general, I am thankful that I have a life to be thankful for, a life I know is secure in the Lord. A life that doesn’t end the day I fall asleep; my gratitude is to Jesus for being willing to obey his Father so that I could live. I have an enormous feeling of gratitude each morning I wake, thankful to be able to experience this life in the power of the Spirit by God’s grace.
The day I searched the question; “what will it profit a man to gain the whole world, but lose his soul”; was the day I began understanding why the older folk were so afraid of hoarding wealth, and older pastors preached against cash hoarding money. “We come into the world naked and will take nothing when we leave it”, is another interesting saying, and we don’t know who will do what with what we gather. I’m thankful to have had the time to search this text and understand it.
My gratitude is also about things and opportunities I’ve lost. Can you imagine bringing venture baggage and keeping them tied around your neck? Worrying over things you lost? Waste of time. Instead, I realize God moved them aside because I didn’t realize what I was being given and it would have become a burden, or things could have held me back from maturing in faith and Spirit. So I am grateful for everything I have lost or given up as I am grateful for the growth in faith. In this new living, I realized what I nearly gave up when God answered and showed me the breadth of his grace.
I am grateful for the chance to know a God who doesn’t give up on His children. A son who was obedient unto death for the brothers his Father would give him, and a life that does not end when we die. And I am thankful for all of this because Jesus’ abundant grace replaced my anxious heart with a heart of gratitude and faith. I am thankful for the Amen that takes me into his presence, and the promise of glorifying Him for giving me so many things I’m unworthy of, that is being honest.
May we forever share in a heart of gratitude. May you be given yours, too.
