EXPRESSING GRATITUDE

BIBLE PASSAGE:
But God demonstrates his own love for us in this:
While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
(Romans 5:8)

MEDITATION:
What is the most awesome thing someone else has done for you this
year? What about during the last ten years? What about your entire
life?

Did someone call you or send a card or text at just the right moment?
Did someone lift your spirits when you were down and really needed
a friend? Did someone encourage you when you felt inadequate? Did
someone check on you just to see how you are doing? Did someone go
out of their way to do something special for you because they value
your friendship?

How did you respond to the thing (or things) someone did for you?
Did you show your appreciation for how they reached out to you?
Did you thank them and let them know that they provided what
you needed at just the right time? Chances are you thanked them
(and maybe more than once). If you didn’t show any appreciation,
then shame on you.

Showing gratitude to others is not a requirement, but it is certainly
appropriate, isn’t it? Has anyone ever taken the punishment that
you deserved? Has anyone ever died for you? The answer to both
questions is a resounding “Yes!”.

Jesus Christ took the punishment that you deserved, AND He died
for you! Why would He do that? Because it was a demonstration
of God’s love for you.

Have you ever done something for someone else that they would
consider awesome? Have you been an encourager to someone who
is down? Have you called or sent a card or text to someone whom
you knew was hurting, or someone who just came to mind for no
particular reason?

God demonstrated His love for us as an example so that we would know
to show love toward others. Have you thanked the Lord for taking your
punishment and dying for you? How often do you thank Him? Take some
time and thank Him not only for those blessings, but for every blessing He
has provided.

He blesses us with much more than our needs (food, clothing, shelter). Look
around your house and thank Him for all He has given you. Thank Him for
the abilities and talents He has given you. Thank Him for answered prayers.
When we consider all the ways He has blessed us, we should have a burning
desire to thank Him, shouldn’t we? God loves us all and His desire is for us
to love Him too.

ACTION:
How are you showing your love and appreciation for God’s blessings?
One of the ways we can show our gratefulness is through obedience.
Look at these words from God’s Son, Jesus:
    “If you love me, keep my commands.”
    (John 14:15)

    Jesus replied, “Anyone who loves me will obey my teaching.
    My Father will love them, and we will come to them and
    make our home with them. Anyone who does not love me
    will not obey my teaching. These words you hear are not
    my own; they belong to the Father who sent me.”
    (John 14:23-24)

Look at the promise of additional blessings
when we are part of God’s family:
    But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father
    will send in my name, will teach you all things and
    will remind you of everything I have said to you.
    (John 14:26)

    Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not
    give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts
    be troubled and do not be afraid.
    (John 14:27)

    “You heard me say, ‘I am going away and I am coming
    back to you.’ If you loved me, you would be glad that I
    am going to the Father, for the Father is greater than I.
    (John 14:28)

We are promised the blessing of an unusual peace, courage for
difficult circumstances, and the presence of the Holy Spirit in
our lives to teach and guide us as we navigate a sinful world as
members of God’s family. God sends us the Holy Spirit to help
us in many ways and we should be grateful for His presence in
our lives.

The Spirit knows our weak areas and will help us in ways we could
never imagine. In addition, He will intercede for us when we pray
and are having a struggle expressing our heartfelt concerns and
needs. How refreshing is that? He can read our hearts and put into
words what we are having a tough time expressing.

We have all been there, haven’t we? We know our concerns, but
we can be unsure of how to pray about them. Sometimes we can
be so emotionally involved with our concerns that it is hard to
think of the words to fully express them. It sounds unusual but
it is real, and we can be thankful for the Holy Spirit’s ability to
articulate what we can’t.

Think about how you can personalize the example Jesus gave us
on praying. Here are some thoughts the Lord gave me one night
as I was preparing a Sunday School lesson. It was as if He told me
to set the lesson aside for awhile because He had something else
He wanted me to focus on.

OUR FATHER
Lord, when I realized I was a sinner, I confessed my sins,
expressed my faith in Jesus Christ, and asked You to save
me. It was at that point that I became Your adopted child,
and You became my spiritual Father.

IN HEAVEN
I believe that You reside in heaven, and as a child of Yours,
heaven will one day be my permanent residence. I want to
live a life worthy of being a resident of heaven. I want to have
the same characteristics now that I will have when I go to my
heavenly home.

HALLOWED BE YOUR NAME
You are the God who deserves my praise and worship. You
are the God above all gods. In fact, I believe that You are the
only God. All other gods are made by man, so they are really
not gods at all. I want others to know of my praise, honor, and
worship of You, and You alone.

YOUR KINGDOM COME
I sincerely believe that Your Word is true and that one day Your
kingdom will come to welcome me and all other believers to our
heavenly home. I look forward to that day and will spend my days
trying to show my faith through my actions, words, and attitudes.

YOUR WILL BE DONE
My faith has convinced me that any decision You make, is perfect
in any, and all situations. When I pray to You, I am anxious to see
what Your answer will be. I want to remember to always thank You
for answered prayer, and to be ready to share with others how I
prayed and You responded. I want them to know of Your concern
for me and how You listen to my prayers. I want others to know of
my fellowship with You.

ON EARTH AS IT IS IN HEAVEN
I want to have the same characteristics now that I will have when
I go to my heavenly home. It’s not easy, so I ask You to help me in
all my areas of weaknesses. Help me to be humble and not egotistical
or arrogant. Help me to think of others ahead of myself. Help me to
be caring, considerate, and not selfish. Help me to realize the impact
my words, my attitudes, and my actions have on others (especially
those I love). Help me to be an encourager to others. It is easy to get
wrapped up in my own issues and forget that others also have issues
and concerns. Help me to be sensitive to the needs of others and to
pray for them often. Help me to be more like Jesus.

GIVE US TODAY
Lord, every day that I have is a gift from You. You control the days,
the nights, the sun, the moon, the stars, and the weather. You are in
total control of the universe, and I praise You for how perfectly it all
fits together. No other god can give us just one more day, because
there is no other God but You.

OUR DAILY BREAD
Lord, You supply my needs on a daily basis. You are the God who
gives me food, shelter, and clothing. Every breath I take is given by
You. Every beat of my heart, You provide. You give me much more
than these things. You give me intelligence and physical abilities as
You see fit. If I am successful in my career, it is because You have
given me the skills I need. You gave me spiritual gifts when You
saved me. Help me to use those gifts to bring honor and praise to
You. Don’t let me abuse what You have given me and remind me
to never take credit for anything You have provided.

FORGIVE US OUR TRESPASSES
You know my sins because they are ever before You. I confess these
sins to You and ask for Your forgiveness. When I sin, I sin against
You and this is why I ask You for Your forgiveness. At the same time,
I ask for You to develop in me a repentant heart. Give me strength,
as only You can, to walk away from these sins in the future. Help me
to never lose sight of Your love, power and willingness to forgive me.
Remind me to always thank You for your forgiveness.

AS WE FORGIVE THOSE WHO TRESPASS AGAINST US
Develop a forgiving heart in me. Help me to understand that since
You, the God of the universe, forgive me of the sins You see in my
life, then I must forgive others of their trespasses against me. Alter
my attitudes so they will become more like those of Jesus. Help me
to understand that when I replace bitterness and anger with
forgiveness, it is not only better for my health, but it also helps
me to be more like Jesus.

LEAD US NOT INTO TEMPTATION
Help me to humbly follow wherever You lead me. I know that
You want what is best for me, so I trust Your guidance. I want
to give You full control of my life. I realize that when I am in
control, I am in danger of going in many wrong directions.
Whenever I fail to give You control, I am showing a lack of
trust in You. I don’t want that to be a part of my life. I do trust
You, and wherever You lead, I want to follow. Give me the
strength, determination, and encouragement that I need.

BUT DELIVER US FROM EVIL
Lord, You know the power of the evil one and how he is clever
in attacking me where I am weak. I cannot resist him in my own
strength, but I know You can give me the strength to overcome.
You know my weaknesses, but You have the power to defeat the
evil one through me. I thank You for being there to rescue me
when I am overwhelmed. Without Your presence, all my hope is
gone. Help me to anticipate and look forward to where You are
leading me “TO”, when You lead me away “FROM” evil. I want
my relationship and fellowship with You to grow daily, and I know
they will, as I give You more and more control of my life. Thank
You, Father, for being there and for watching over me.

FOR YOURS IS THE KINGDOM
Your home is where I want my home to be. You are the God I love
and the One I want to spend time with.

THE POWER
You are all powerful. I may not understand it all, but my faith is
based on You being the God who created everything and controls
everything. You have the power to supply my needs; You have the
power to love; You have the power to forgive; You have the power
to save; and You have the power over evil.

AND THE GLORY
It is You, and You alone whom I worship. I am overwhelmed with
thankfulness for the gift of salvation You have given me. I praise
You and thank You for all You have done in my life, all that You
are doing in my life, and all that You will do in my life. You deserve
the glory for all that is good, and I love You as my heavenly Father.

FOREVER
You are the unchangeable Who was, Who is, Who is to come,
and Who will always be. Thank You for loving me so much
that You sent Your Son to take the punishment that I deserve.

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