Most Caring Lord, today I am led to focus on the many good gifts which You’ve added to my life since becoming Your child. It is easy to complain about aspects of my life but, in reality, I have plenty to praise You for. These include … forgiveness for my sins (past present and future); healing for all manner of sickness and disease; a life redeemed from the pit of hell; being showered each day with love and compassion; my desires being satisfied with good gifts; the lift You give to my spirit when I’m down and the strength you provide when I am weak; the abundance of Your mercy and grace which You add to my life; and, the fact that You hear my pleas and respond to them. This I am sure of: I am not worthy of any of them. What I also know is that You love me and will faithfully stand by my side. No matter how difficult my journey becomes, I am confident that You will be there for me.
A promise You’ve made to me, which I will never forget, is that “The Lord remembers us and will bless us.” What a fantastic truth to hang onto when things are not seemingly going my way. At times I can feel isolated, alone or abandoned, even when I know in my heart that You are there. In reality, You see what I’m going through and have compassion on me. My feeling of separation stems from allowing myself to drift from the safety of Your care. When I get depressed over things going on in my life, I should be encouraged by Your promise to remember me and bless me with good things. Your promise reassures me that You keep me in Your thoughts and want to be involved in my life. If I dare to draw back, pull me close to You again. If I tend to give up, remind me that all things are possible when I include You. When I feel I have nothing, remind me of all of Your blessings.
Important benefits that I’ve received since committing my life to You is the fact that my sins have been forgiven, I’ve been set free from the power of sin and You’ve promised You will crush my enemies. Had I refused Your offer, I would have been crushed by sin and death. I would have been trapped by the sins I cling to and been destroyed by the death they bring. How much better it is to be a benefactor of salvation which has freed me from the power of sin and death. In their place, You’ve provided me with mercy and grace. The thought that keeps going through my mind is … “how can I ever repay You for Your goodness to me?” My conclusion is that I must strive to emulate Your life … praise Your name and give You glory every chance I get … be forever grateful for the sacrifices You made for my benefit … and, live my life in gratitude for being a benefactor of Yours. And it’s in Jesus’ name I pray. AMEN!!
Luke 22:25-30 You are those who have stood by me in trials. And I confer to you a kingdom just as my Father has conferred to Me, so that you may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom …