The song “Give Thanks With A Grateful Heart” was playing in my spirit and brought me to a place of reflection. I started looking over my life, and tears of joy streamed down my face. As I ventured into my past, I could see the hand of God heavily in my life working out the details of each season. Most importantly, in the seasons I was most afraid He proved over and over again He was in complete control. He took over my life and was preventing me from making a mess of it. I was so afraid and concerned about the direction in which my life was going because I could not afford to fail. I was so afraid of not reaching the many goals I had set for myself individually, as a wife, mother, daughter, sister and friend.
God, in His abundance of grace, was working to free me from the self-sufficient mindset that took years to develop. The pride that came with always being ready for any curve ball life had flung in my direction was something He was pruning, and can I say it was painful but played a role in getting my attention. God, my loving father, was working things out to bring me to a place of rest in which I was dependent on Him. A place in which I could slow down and focus on Him. During the process of cutting away the things that were bringing Him no glory, my eyes were beginning to open, and I became sensitive to the fact that my priorities were arranged based on my fleshly desires. The hand of God was redirecting me out of love.
Many times during the process to where I am today, I questioned why God saw fit to cut away one layer after the next peeling me like an onion, but am I glad that He did. My Heavenly Father took away the things and He is still taking anything that would stand in the way of making Him the main focus of my life and took me on a wild and exciting journey. A journey on which I have learned and I am still learning to exercise faith and unwavering trust in His capacity to love, provide for and protect me. As I asked many questions based on the hand that life was dealing me the Holy Spirit, my Comforter brought me to Psalm 103, and that chapter in the Bible changed my life forever. I am one that is usually filled with excitement and joy when the Holy Spirit reveals something or give me new insights but not on this occasion. Instead, I was in tears for over two weeks as I read Psalm 103 over and over. Psalm 103 made it clear to me that I was seeking God for things that were temporary which nothing is wrong with, and we need to survive here on Earth. What I read opened my eyes, and I was now able to see that the things that matter after this life ends were all mine because of my declaration of faith in the finished work of Jesus Christ. I did not deserve the glorious riches that I was now walking into an understanding of. Still, it was not about what I deserved. It was about what Christ died on the cross for me to have access to not only in this life but most importantly in eternity.
God brought my attention to the fact that there was so much to be thankful for.
Salvation: Jesus Christ gave His life for me so that I, even before I was born, could accept His sacrifice. The only sacrifice pleasing to God the Father that boldly declared over 2000 years ago that “This is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased.” I am a child of the Most High God because of the rescue mission Jesus came on for me. I am forgiven because Jesus died to forgive me of my sins once and for all. I am a work in progress, but my salvation is not an issue. No matter how much I try to live a life that is pleasing, I will never be perfect or spotless, and boy am I glad that Jesus decided to stay on that cross for an imperfect person like me. I am Justified by the finished work! Romans 4:7-8 states that “Blessed are those whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered. Blessed is the one whose sin the Lord will never count against them.” The blood of Jesus has covered me!
I am in right standing with God. He is not mad with me.
When Jesus went on the cross and died for me, He appeased the wrath of God on my behalf. He made a way for me to approach His throne without fear. The blood of Jesus makes it possible for me to fellowship with God almighty. Isaiah 53:5 “But He was pierced for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on Him, and by His wounds we are healed.” We are at peace with God!
I have the Comforter the Holy Spirit living in me a guide from this life into eternity.
Knowing that I am not left alone on this journey called life, but that supernatural preparations have been made for me brings so much peace. A peace that passes all understanding. I have the reassurance that my heavenly father is looking out for me and no matter what this life has to offer, I am never alone. No matter what I face, I consider the process, the situations and environments controlled. My Heavenly Father is in charge of all things pertaining to me. If He allows me to go in the valley, it will all work for my good. The Holy Spirit is making intercession on my behalf. Romans 8:27. “And He who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God.” The Holy Spirit is searching the deep things of God and making them known to me. 1Corinthians 2:10 “These are the things God has revealed to us by His Spirit.” The Holy Spirit is helping me in my weakness. Romans 8:26 “In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans.” The Promise of the Holy Spirit is such a precious and uplifting promise.
Eternity is secured for me.
When I see some people interacting on a daily basis, how happy they are and their love of life which is a great thing, I wonder if they care about the wellbeing of their soul. I wonder if they understand that the reason they are alive and breathing is because of the grace and mercy of God. I wonder if they understand that having life is an opportunity to repent before it is everlasting too late if they are not yet believers. Death is unavoidable for all of us. Hebrews 9:27 states “And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment.” However, as a child of God, I believe in the sacrifice that was made for me and hold to the promise in John 14:2-3 “In My Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and welcome you into My presence, so that you also may be where I am.”
I am loved
My limited human mind cannot comprehend Gods love for me. It is just so overwhelming to know that before I was born and before my parents were born I was being thought of and a way was being made for me to be saved. I consider the rescue mission that Jesus came on the greatest love story in history. Romans 5:8 “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”
God, my father, has great plans for me, and I am so thankful for His sacrifice on Calvery. Dying so that I can have life eternal even before I was born. Now I do not live my life in fear of what awaits me in eternity, but who awaits me! I am free not because of anything I did on my own but because grace and mercy have been extended to me! The same grace and mercy is yours if you choose to admit that you need a saviour (Jesus Christ) and believe in His sacrifice on the cross to save all who will believe on Him. Isaiah 1:18 “Come now, let us settle the matter,” says the LORD. “Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool.” Isn’t this just glorious! He is calling me us to come as we are. I intend to continue receiving ALL that God died for me to have resting in His abundance of grace and mercy.
These truths are why I am so happy and thankful as a child of God where I am in my spiritual walk. The creator of the universe, the omnipotent, omniscient and omnipresent one, the God that declares that times and seasons are in His hands is looking out for me. My sins will never be counted against me, and God came not for the righteous but came to call sinners like me to repentance. Knowing that I am human and my best righteousness is filthy rags, but in His abundance of grace in the form of Jesus Christ, God bridged the gap, the chasm that was wedged between us. I am not just thankful; I am bursting with gratitude.
The joy, peace and happiness that I have found is also yours, and I pray that the Holy Spirit will meet you right where you are bringing you also into the truth if you are not yet saved that Jesus made way for you. He has done what you or I could never do “Save our souls”. All He is asking of us is to accept His sacrifice as He is the only door and name by which we can be eternally saved!
Boy am I thankful to be at peace with God!
Please comment below on why you are thankful! I really cannot wait to see! Life with Jesus is just so super exciting.😊😁
Thank you sis for sharing
You are welcome🤗