Thankful. Grateful. Blessed.
Thanksgiving is a time of just that, bringing thanks and being grateful for all we are blessed with. This year the Holy Spirit has shown me how every moving part, every intricate detail fits together to bring to pass His great purposes. All of it.
It’s so amazing to me that each and every moment of my life has been mapped out. Yours too! Each moment of our lives are perfectly orchestrated to accomplish God’s plan. Ephesians 3:10 says God prepared it all beforehand for us to walk out.
But, what would it be like without Jesus?
If we read down a bit further, Paul gives us a preview…
“that at that time you were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world.” Ephesians 2:12 NKJV
So without Jesus, we are aliens, strangers to the promises of God. Hopeless and orphan. This is such a sad place to be with no hope and without God.
Praise God He gave us the good gift of redemption by the blood of the lamb.
Praise God we know His salvation in Christ Jesus.
Praise God we are resurrected with Christ to walk in the fullness of life.
Jesus came to put to death hostility and hatred, that we would have peace that passes all understanding.
Jesus came to give us a front seat at the foot of the throne of God, restoring relationship with our Heavenly Father, as He originally intended before sin.
He loves us that much.
Jesus came so that we all, each one of us have all the royalties he died to give us.
On this day, let us remember all the benefits that sometimes we may lose sight of and forget.
He, Himself is our peace.
I know when I am in the thick of the worst situations, the quickest and easiest way for me to pull myself together is whisper the name of Jesus. His spoken name alone can wash a calm over me like nothing else. His spoken name falls around me like a sweet fragrance.
2. Jesus became the forever sacrifice.
No more walls or intercession stand between the Father and us. We have full access to the throne of God through Christ Jesus, to boldly bring our petitions before God. Ephesians 2:18
3. Strength.
Philippians 4:13 says “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” Praise be to God for this promise. I can’t count how many times I have spoken this scripture out loud and each time come out on the other side of trials and storms, victorious. Because of my strength? Oh no! It wasn’t mine at all, but everything Jesus.
In my weakness, He is made strong.
Paul says in 2 Corinthians 11:30 “If I must boast, I will boast of the things that show my weakness.”
He wasn’t afraid to let his weakness show.
He understood the purpose.
He understood the assignment.
He understood it is all to give the glory back to God.
4. Rooted and grounded in love.
In Jesus, this is the best of all the benefits! This is the very thing equipping us for the fulfillment of our purpose.
Ephesians 3:19 says “to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.”
So beautiful! To be filled with the fullness of God….
You know that comfortable feeling you get after eating a really great meal? That cozy fullness? that right there is what Father God wants you to have.
Friend, know this without a shadow of a doubt…
God is not mad at you.
He loves you.
My mission, my goal, my driven passion is this; for you to know the deep rooted, fervidly, overwhelming love of our Father in Heaven. Grab hold of this benefit and let it get deep down in your heart of hearts. When you are rooted and grounded in God’s love, you are not easily moved by the pain and turmoil of this world, because you know and stand fully confident in the knowledge that His love never fails.
I am thankful for the knowledge of His love.
I am grateful for the promise of my everlasting life.
I am blessed every day by the generous good gifts from the Father of lights.
