Thankful Thursday

 

 

Sometimes I don't realize how much I take the blessings of life for granted

 

I easily slip into an entitlement mentality

 

And when I suddenly don't have something, I feel cheated or mistreated

 

But life is full of uncertainties

 

And I really don't deserve any of the good things I enjoy

 

One thing is certain; there is coming a day when I will stand before my Maker

 

On that day, only one thing will matter

 

He won't ask me how good I was

 

or how many religious activities I was involved in

 

or how many hours I put in on the job trying to provide for my family

 

Did I believe that Jesus was the Son of God, the perfect sacrifice for my sin, and acknowledge Him as my Savior and Lord?

 

I am thankful God reached out and touched me

 

I'm grateful I learned about Jesus and His love for me that took Him to the cross

 

I know that because of His death and resurrection I will have eternity to express that gratitude

 

And meanwhile, I have opportunities everyday to express my thankfulness

 

Sometimes I do well at that

 

some days I get stuck in the pity party mode

 

I'm thankful for God's patience with me

 

He knows I need His grace and mercy

 

And He gives it to me generously

 

I'm thankful God doesn't look down on me when I ask for His help

 

He loves me and is glad to respond to my requests

 

I'm thankful that in a world of constant change He remains the same

 

He is my rock, a solid foundation I can build on

 

I'm thankful He invites me to come; He waits with open arms for those who put their trust in Him

 

He is my shield, I have nothing to fear

 

I am forever grateful

Thankful Thursday

 

 

Prayer: the privilege I have to talk directly with the Father, the creator of the universe, King of kings and Lord of lords

 

I can't even begin to express how grateful I am for this gift

 

And I am not alone in this communication with God

 

Scripture tells me that Jesus is continually making intercession for me at the right hand of the Father

 

How amazing!  I am so thankful for His prayers on my behalf

 

I've been reading in John 17 recently.  I'm challenged and encouraged by the things Jesus prays for me in this chapter

 

He prays for preservation; that the Father would keep me in His name

 

He prays for unity among His people

 

He prays for His joy to fill me up

 

He asks the Father to guard me from the evil one

 

He prays for my sanctification which comes through the truth found in His word

 

He prays that my life would bear testimony of His love so that others would believe

 

He prays that His love would flow through me

 

And He prays that I would be with Him

 

I'm so thankful that Jesus is my advocate before the Father

 

It is His blood that cleanses me and gives me right standing before God

 

I'm thankful for His sacrifice in going to the cross, suffering unimaginable physical pain, and being separated from His Father because of my sin

 

He cried out on the cross, "My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?"

 

It was because He carried My sin that the Father had to look away and break the bond shared with His Son from eternity past

 

And in spite of that, in spite of my ongoing wretchedness, He loves me enough to approach God the Father for me and ask Him for these things.

 

I'm also very thankful for God's Spirit, who helps me when I don't even know how to pray,  taking up my cause before the Father

 

I've recently been seeing how powerful and faithful God is in responding to the prayers of His people

 

I'm thankful He is not limited in any way like I am

 

He has grace in abundance,

 

His mercies are new every morning,

 

He is a healer,

 

a protector,

 

He knows me completely,

 

and He loves with an everlasting love.

 

I am thankful!

 

None of this is deserved

 

If I got what I deserved, I'd most likely be in some prison cell or my body would be in the grave

 

but thankfully Christ bore that shame for me.

 

Can't wait to see Him face to face and express my gratitude in His presence

Thankful Thursday

God has been reminding me recently that He is a gracious and merciful Father

I'm so thankful for His ongoing work of reconciliation in my life

I'm grateful for a conversation I had with a dear brother this morning which was a testimony of God's goodness in his life

Last Saturday, I had a call from my son, informing me he had just been in an accident.  After seeing pictures of the truck he was driving, we are convinced that it's a miracle he and his passengers were not seriously injured or even killed.  I'm very thankful God spared him on so many fronts

That phone call has caused me to be more thoughtful as I've been driving.  I know my driving better than to believe that the fact I haven't been involved in many accidents is to my credit.  God has been faithful in keeping me from harm, keeping me alert, and guarding me even when I take unnecessary risks.  I'm so thankful He is always with me

That was another source of comfort on Saturday.  I just wanted to be able to wrap my arms around my son and let him know it was going to be okay.  I couldn't do that, but I knew God was right there with him.  With my kids scattered all over the country, I'm very thankful God is not limited by time and space like I am.

Today, I drove a few hundred miles on my way to visit our daughter in Louisiana.  I'm thankful for the opportunity to see her and her new home.  And thankful for friends along the way who graciously opened their home to us for a night of sleep.

I'm thankful God has created our bodies in such a way that they are able to heal themselves.  I recently had a conversation with a friend about this, recalling several occasions when I have experienced this first hand.  Just thinking about the way our bodies function blows my mind.

My heart is filled with gratitude this evening as I reflect on the many ways God reveals Himself each day.  I regularly pray that He will open my eyes to see Him more clearly, and He does!  Jesus told us in Matt. 7 we should ask, seek, and knock.  How thankful I am that He responds when I obey.

Thankful Thursday

 

 

"These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may be in you, and that your joy may be made full."-- Jesus

 

What a statement!  I'm thankful for the affect this statement by Jesus has on my outlook on life.

 

I had a conversation with a friend earlier this week, and when he asked me how I was doing, I replied that I was enjoying life.  His response was an encouragement to me.  He said, "John, you always seem to enjoy life."

 

I do!  There is so much to enjoy.  And God's desire for us is that we would be filled up with His joy which overflows into our joy.

 

That's one of the reasons I do this Thankful Thursday post.  It's a good reminder that I truly do have much to be thankful for, and it helps me keep the right perspective

 

To quote Jesus again; "I came that they might have life, and might have it abundantly."

 

I'm so thankful for the abundance of life Jesus provides.  This doesn't mean that I will have lots of stuff.  But it does mean that life can be full of meaning and enjoyment. 

 

I've been spending a lot of time in the gospels this year; reading through them to grow in my knowledge of Jesus, and remind myself what imitating Him ought to look like.

 

The following are some of the statements Jesus made for which I am thankful

 

"If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more shall your Father who is in heaven give what is good to those who ask Him?"

 

"Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest."

 

"With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible."

 

"Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age."

 

"For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have eternal life.  For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world should be saved through Him."

 

"whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall become in him a well of water springing up to eternal life."

 

"I am the light of the world; he who follows Me shall not walk in the darkness, but shall have the light of life."

 

"I am the good shepherd; and I know My own, and My own know Me."

 

"I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in Me shall live even if he dies, and everyone who lives and believes in Me shall never die."

 

"I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father, but through Me."

 

"If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him, and make Our abode with him."

 

"And whatever you ask in My name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.  If you ask Me anything in My name, I will do it."

 

"I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me, and I in him, he bears much fruit; for apart from Me you can do nothing."

 

I am so grateful that I serve a God who invests in me as His son.  He loved me enough to send Jesus to pay the penalty for my sin.  He continues to visit me with His grace and mercy.  He promises to always be with me, and to give me what I need for life and godliness.

 

I've only scratched the surface here, but I trust that these statements will resonate with you, and be a source of encouragement in your walk with the Savior.