Thankfulness

November 23rd – 1 Thessalonians 5:18

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1 Thessalonians 5:18

I love the quote, “In the tapestry of gratitude, a thankful heart stitches the threads of hope, weaving a resilient fabric that withstands life’s challenges.” That’s why this verse in 1 Thessalonians resonates especially during the Thanksgiving holiday. Because it emphasizes the profound connection between hope, endurance, and gratitude. As we gather with thankfulness in our hearts, Paul reminds us to give thanks not only for the blessings but also during challenges. This makes giving thanks a transformative act, cultivating a spirit of hope that perseveres through difficulties. This act of expressing gratitude serves as a powerful reminder that even in the middle of trials, God’s sovereignty is at work. And through a lens of thankfulness, we can find the strength to endure, trusting that our hope is anchored in God. The Thanksgiving holiday, then, becomes a wonderful opportunity to align our hearts with the will of God, fostering enduring hope through a posture of gratitude in all circumstances.

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June 25th – Luke 11:4

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Luke 11:4

“And forgive us our sins, for we ourselves forgive everyone indebted to us.”

Like it or not, seeking forgiveness from God and extending forgiveness to others is a package deal. You can’t have one without the other. Why? Because we are the Lord’s ambassadors on earth. And when we forgive those who have wronged us, we mirror God’s forgiveness in our own lives to a watching world. But along with that, God wants us to experience the freedom and restoration that comes from receiving and extending forgiveness. And the great blessing both bring. For as Jesus teaches, as wonderful as receiving forgiveness is, it’s an even greater blessing to give. (Acts 20:35) As Christians we receive the transformative power of God’s grace. And out of thankful hearts, we should embody that forgiving spirit towards others. God’s forgiveness goes hand in hand with forgiving others. So if we want to receive the abundance of His mercy, we need to abundantly give it to others.

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June 1st – Psalm 100:5

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Psalm 100:5

“For the Lord is good and His love endures forever; His faithfulness continues through all generations.”

I don’t know about you, but I struggle with repentance. Oh I can apologize easy enough. And I do feel sorry for having sinned against others and God. But sadly, I’m a repeat offender. Because for me it’s easier to sin and ask for forgiveness, than to stop the sin in its tracks before happening. And that’s why I’m so thankful for God’s goodness. Because part of that goodness involves His forgiveness. A forgiveness I need second by second, minute by minute, hour by hour, and day by day. And it’s through His forgiveness, which God demonstrates His abundant mercy, compassion, and grace. I have a long way to go, and am definitely a work in progress. But God knows that. And despite how I fail Him, He is always faithful. Faithful in His love, patience, and forgiveness. Are you struggling with shame and guilt? Go to God. Lay all your sins at His feet. Receive His forgiveness and restoration. And know that even though sin may have a temporary hold on us, Jesus has a greater hold. A hold no sin could ever break.

 

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May 10th – Psalm 40:3

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Psalm 40:3

When we’re hurting we don’t want to wait for relief. We want God to act now! But trusting in His perfect plan for our lives means surrendering to God’s own way and own time. So if we’re in a season of waiting, it isn’t because God enjoys seeing us suffer. Instead He uses that time to deepen our faith, dependence, and trust in His unfailing love, goodness, and grace. And as we see Him at work in our lives, our relationship with the Lord deepens. We get a new understanding of who God is. And a new thankfulness for all He does. A heart transformation begins, and God puts a new song in our mouth. A song filled with a fresh way of thinking about and experiencing God’s presence in our lives. Our Father knows the wonderful things He has in store for us. And so He says, “Be patient My child. I hear your cries. Trust in Me. And I will give you a joyous new song of praise to sing!”

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April 7th – Isaiah 6:8

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Isaiah 6:8

Have you ever thought you washed a window to crystal clear perfection only to find it full of streaks when the rays of the sun shined on it? That’s how it is with us. No matter how hard we try, or how clean we think our lives are, they are nothing more than dirty, streaky, windows compared to the perfect goodness of God. But because of His boundless love, just like He did for Isaiah, God provides a way for our sin to be taken away and forgiven. That way is Jesus Christ. Through His work on the Cross and the shedding of His precious blood, the minute we receive Him as our Savior, the Holy Spirit goes to work. First he humbles and convicts us about the filthiness of our lives. Then He begins transforming, cleansing, and getting us ready for God’s service. No longer unworthy, and like the prophets before us, we can be eagerly obedient to God’s calling. And after our own life changing encounter with the Lord, with a thankful heart we too can say to God, “Here am I. send Me!”

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February 18th – Romans 13:8

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Romans 13:8

Freedom from debt is an exhilarating feeling. And owing nothing to a creditor or the taxman is a liberation that God wants for each of us. But there is one debt that we owe and can never fully pay off. And that is the debt of loving each other. Every day we wake up owing this debt. And every day is an opportunity to pay on it. God takes this debt so seriously, that in the Bible from start to finish, He gives the commandment to love one another. So if we are followers of Jesus and are truly becoming transformed into His image and likeness, we need to be faithful in paying our debt. That means loving others as God does. For the very foundation of Christianity is love. And in one of the greatest acts of love, God became flesh and allowed Himself to be nailed to a Cross to pay our debt. And out of hearts of obedience and thankfulness, we too need to follow His example of selflessness and let love for others be the guiding light in all that we do.

 

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November 30th – Colossians 3:15

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Colossians 3:15

With the holiday season upon us, wishes of “peace on earth and goodwill to men” fill the hearts of people around the world. But for Christian’s, the peace of Christ should rule in our hearts everyday, not just at Christmas. When we receive Jesus as our Savior, wonderful things begin to happen. First, we become adopted members of God’s family. Next, the Holy Spirit enters and gets to work transforming us into the likeness of Jesus. He begins by softening the rough edges of our heart. Next He takes out the garbage, and replaces it with the joy, love, and peace of Christ. A peace we are to let reign in our lives, and a peace we are to extend especially to fellow Believers. For we are each valuable members of the body of Christ. And out of thankfulness for the grace shown to us, we need to show the peace of Christ to a world that is anything but.

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November 23rd – Psalm 66:19

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Psalm 66:19

Don’t you hate it when you’re trying to reach someone and your call goes straight to voicemail? That never happens with God. Through the privilege of prayer, we have a direct line of communication with God. And He’s always there, ready and eager to answer the call. Some Christians mistakenly believe that God only cares about the big stuff. But the truth is, He cares about every area of our lives both big and small. Prayer is a gift our heavenly Father gives to us so that we can come to Him with everything. Be it a petition, guidance, thankfulness, or to unburden our heart, God wants to be our first destination. For when we talk to Him, God promises to both listen and respond. And although we may not like the answer, we can give thanks that no prayer will go unanswered.

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November 22nd – Lamentations 3:22-23

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Lamentations 3:22-23

Everything in life has an expiration date, even us. But there is one thing that never dies. And that is the love God both feels and demonstrates to those He calls His own. It never waivers, never changes, and never leaves us. And because God is the Author of love, the perfect love He gives isn’t because of our goodness, but His. For we fail Him daily, and could never deserve the great devotion and affection our Father lavishes on us. Yet out of His great faithfulness, God’s mercies are new each morning. With the dawn of each day, He gives us a fresh supply of His love and compassion. And how thankful are we that no matter how many times we mess up, each morning brings with it a chance to start over. To do better than the day before. Knowing that even on the days where we get up on the wrong side of the bed, God doesn’t. He is there always, waiting to give to us His mercies!

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November 17th – Psalm 30:12

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Psalm 30:12

We all suffer heartbreak. And sometimes the sorrow is so deep and painful, we feel like we can’t take another step. It’s often during these times of trials that we wonder where God is. If He loves us, why does He let us suffer? King David knew these feelings well. He was God’s beloved, but he still faced many tribulations throughout his life. Yet David sings with gladness and thankfulness to the Lord. When we are hurting the last thing we want to do is give thanks. But God calls us to do just that. Not because it’s an ego boost for the Lord, but because it’s the best therapy for our pain. When our eyes and hearts are focused on God and all He does for us, our sorrow will be drowned out by His goodness. Our mourning will turn into dancing and our sorrow into rejoicing. God never lets us suffer anything without a purpose. So we can give thanks knowing all things are in His hands and all things are used for our good, even our greatest heartaches. (Romans 8:28)

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