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 on this Tuesday morning in August, for nothing whine-worthy is weighing on my heart. Thank you for being an incomparably kind and relentlessly generous God. Here’s what fuels my gratitude today.
First of all, thank you for the “indescribable gift” of the gospel. Because of Jesus, no condemnation is left for our sin, perfect righteousness is declared to be ours; and we cannot, and will not, ever experience separation from your love or diminution of your delight. Thank you for your commitment to finish your work of salvation in us, and in your entire cosmos. Hallelujah, many times over!
But, Father, I don’t want to be thankful, peaceful, and joyful when things are going well, but also when things are challenging and disheartening. Thank you for being steadfastly at work for our good in all things all the time (Rom. 8:28). In the things that thrill us and the things that dismay us; in the wounds that still hurt us and failures that still haunt us; in our “unanswered” intercession and in unexpected transitions; in delayed flights and incidental slights.
In the biggest blessings we’ll ever know, and in the big disappointments we’ve yet to experience; in our extended family challenges, and in the extension of our waiting; in betrayals from old friends and in the bounty of new mercies; and in the circumstances, people, and stories over which we don’t have any control, but SO wish we did.
Thank you for being God, and thank you for being so good, all the time—when we see it and when we doubt it. So very Amen we pray, in Jesus’ exalted and trustworthy name.
