The one who offers thanksgiving as his sacrifice glorifies me (Psalm 50:23 ESV).
Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift! (2 Cor. 9:15 NIV)
Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus (1 Thess. 5:16-18 NIV).
Heavenly Father, obeying these Scriptures is pretty easy in this moment, for my heart is filled with thanksgiving. Thank you for being such an incomparably kind and relentlessly generous God. Though the weakness of my flesh and the whisperings of the devil will try to sabotage my gratitude as the day unfolds, I want to tell you what is presently fresh and real in my heart.
First of all, thank you for the “indescribable gift” of the gospel. Because of Jesus, no condemnation is left for my sin; perfect righteousness is declared to be mine; and I cannot, and will not, ever experience separation from your love. O, the knee-buckling wonder of it all!
Thank you for your commitment to finish your work of salvation in me. I so want to be like Jesus, and I’m so not like him in many ways. But I praise you that you love me right now to the degree I’m in Christ, not to the degree I’m like Christ. I’m 100% in, so I’m good, and thank you!
Father, thank you for being steadfastly at work for my good in all things (Rom. 8:28)—in the things that thrill me and the things that annoy me; in in the wounds that still hurt me and the failures that still haunt me; in the “unanswered” prayers and in unexpected gifts; in delayed flights and in countless delights.
In the biggest fish I’ll ever catch and in the biggest disappointments I’ll ever know; in my extended family and in the extension of my waiting; and in the circumstances, people, and stories over which I don’t have any control… but SO wish I did.
Thank you for being God and thank you for being good—all the time, when I see it and when I doubt it. So very Amen I pray, in Jesus’ exalted and trustworthy name.
