Thanks And Prayer – September 08, 2024 (252/365)

I want to take this time to give thanks to God.

With so much going on in my own life, around me and within me, it’s hard to look at each and every event and circumstance directly with the intent of figuring out what God wants to happen.

Fortunately, we’ve been tipped off by our good brother Paul in the New Testament, particularly where he mentions that the will of God for us in Christ Jesus is for us to give thanks in all things.

So, again, in the confusion, I want to give thanks to God.

I thank God for life. For every breath that I’m taking, and for the truth of the matter – that each and every one of these breaths is done in praise and worship to Him.

I thank God, not only for life, but because this life He gives is TRULY Life. I thank God, because from one perspective we see and live out the Truth, knowing that through the resurrection of Christ, we’ve been made new Creations.

I thank God for His Word, because it’s only through the Word that we realize that we aren’t JUST new Creations; No, we’re being led to understand and appreciate more to what that means, again through Paul who mentions that it means that we’ve been made Temples of the Holy Spirit.

I thank God, because in the times that we don’t have anything, much less everything figured out, we are still at peace, because no matter what happens, we celebrate and shine the glory of God – again, all because we’ve been made Temples of the Holy Spirit.

I thank God for life, and for love – all made known through His Son, Jesus Christ. I thank God for Christ, the incarnation, demonstration and personification of God’s will.

So many things are happening, things that I don’t anticipate or am not prepared for. On the other hand, I’m left wanting, because so many other things that I DO want to happen – they aren’t happening.

All the same, I thank God, because the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are with me here and now, for me and not against me. No height, no depth, no life, no death, no sin, no action or event, NOTHING can ever separate me from His love – and it’s all because of Jesus Christ and His finished work that I can make this claim.

I thank God, because it’s also because of Christ that I am able to venture further, or to go deeper into that same claim to say the other side of the coin – that is, that all heights, all depths, all life, all death, all sin, all action and all events – EVERYTHING reminds me of my absolute and constant connection to the Most High.

In everything, I am reminded that I am never alone, but ALWAYS connected to the Creator of the Universe, and of all things seen and unseen. I thank God, and I praise God, because none of this was because of anything I did, but through Christ who took the initiative, and, in His perfect timing, chose to love us and to die for us.

I thank God, because I could go ahead and just let all of this out, knowing that I have a million other reasons to write or type a million other words – but I am directed by the Truth: The Grace of God, Christ and His finished work, and the power of the Holy Spirit.

I thank God, because this Truth goes beyond being conceptual and is literally alive in me, as, I imagine, the fire that engulfs the bush, but does not consume it.

I thank God, for His glory continues to just overflow in my life – as mentioned, through a flame that burns in and around me, but does not consume me, or as living water that gushes forth from my belly.

I thank God, for He has made all of us this way – willing vessels of His everlasting glory, living sacrifices perennially pleasing to our Father, moving and breathing representations of the goodness of God, whom people see and are consequently led to repentance.

Father, I pray for anyone who’s reached this far; that You would just continue to shine brightly in their lives, as light, life, and love, that we would constantly be reminded of Your goodness, and that we would be consistently transformed by the renewing of our minds.

Strengthen the weak, heal the afflicted, give Your supernatural peace to those who are suffering worry, fear and anxiety. Provide enlightenment to the confused, and be a Firm Foundation to those who have trouble standing.

I thank You for this moment, and I pray You would continue to be glorified in all things. In the name of Jesus, our Savior, amen.

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