In a time when we should be filled with thanksgiving, some people around the world are suffering great calamities. We send up prayers for those who have lost loved ones and homes. Huge storms across the world are causing anguish and hardships, and nations are at war against nations. We pray for Israel and for protection of the innocent.
Here in America, particularly here in Texas, I feel safe from destruction. I’m thankful for the men and women who have fought and died for our freedom. I am very thankful.
Because we live in the United States of America, where I believe we are blessed by God, because Presidents in the past have been instrumental in the allied agreements between Israel, I pray we continue to help Israel. I’m thankful I live in the U.S.A. and for my job, family, hot clean water, a warm home and food.
And, even if I didn’t have all that, I do have the most precious thing, and that is my spiritual freedom. I am free from guilt and condemnation; no matter who gives what message in a church sermon, I am free.
Why? Because it is written:
· John 3:19 “And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.”
· John 5:24 “Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.”
· Romans 5:16 “And not as it was by one that sinned, so is the gift: for the judgment was by one to condemnation, but the free gift is of many offences unto justification.”
· Romans 5:18 “Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men tocondemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life.”
· Romans 8:1 “There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.”
Jesus paid the price for me. He purchased my redemption through His death and resurrection.
Ephesians 1:7 “He is so rich in kindness and grace that he purchased our freedom with the blood of his Son and forgave our sins.”
God is love, and I am precious in His sight because I believe in His dear Son, Jesus Christ, and that He came to this earth, being born of the virgin Mary, wife of Joseph, from the bloodline of David, who lived, died and arose on the third day, fulfilling prophecy, and is seated at the right hand of God. I am free from spiritual death, and my spirit will live forever in heaven with God almighty. For that I am thankful.
Do you have something to be thankful for?
I know someone who plans to eat turkey alone with God, equipped with her Bible; she plans to spend the day studying God’s Word. What a wonderful plan!
Aren’t you thankful that we have God’s Word, because we wouldn’t know about all His promises, if we could not read them for ourselves. Who would read it to us? Do you know someone who will read God’s Word to you? Pure and true, undiluted and unfiltered? We need to see it for ourselves in order to believe, right?
While trying to remember good memories one day, I found that I couldn’t. One evening I was relaxing and feeling completely at peace with God. I suddenly realized THAT was a good memory, but one that slips away as unremarkable.
Those days, which for me have really been many, are the good memories. They did not include a surprise birthday party or trip to the lake. No, they were the pretty sunsets, quiet mornings, days working when you listened to the birds singing, or just sat on the front porch and watched the wind blow the trees, drinking a beer or cold glass of water, looking at the lawn you just got finished mowing. Smelling the freshly cut grass, and watching the first fall leaf drift down to the ground or, in my case, watching my dog chase the leaves, trying to catch them!
Those are the good memories, aren’t they? Why do we so easily forget them? Those same days could have been filled with disasters like the ones others are going through, but praise God, we are not. Are we overlooking something?
Thank You God for all our blessings! We are thankful and apologize for overlooking the peaceful, quiet days, in which no disasters occurred. Thank You for Your peace, and Your joy in our hearts, and for all the days of blessings of protection! Thank YOU! We praise Your Name and thank YOU for sending JESUS CHRIST to us! And we thank YOU that we can publish Your Word and speak praises about You publicly!
More from Focus on Faith.