How to live a “thank you” life!
With Thanksgiving upon us, gratitude is in season. Being thankful for family, friends, churches, pastors, jobs, and certainly for God’s place in our lives, is a given. With food covering tables as smells from the oven fill the rooms of our homes, we will gather with those closest to us and share meaningful moments with those we love.
Yet, God’s people are called to be thankful in all circumstances. We are to live a “thank you” life. This requires a change of mindset, often daily. One way to adopt a thank-you mindset is to recall just what Jesus did on the Cross.
Romans 4:7 – it’s almost too good to be true! “Blessed are those whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered.” Shall we read that again? I don’t know about you, but that Scripture is enough to remind me I have much to be happy about. Once we fully grasp this powerful truth, it’s enough to rock our world, and cause us to lose sight of worldly distractions. We who have accepted Christ are a forgiven people. There’s no sin left to feel guilty about – not one too huge that He left it behind for you to belabor in regret.
Our city has been through so much, as has our nation. Battles rage over countless issues. Our political environment has become hateful. While elections are important and government a necessity, our job is critical. Keep pressing forward in faith, running the race set out before us.
Hebrews 12:1-2 is our reminder: “Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfector of faith.”
What hinders you? What sin entangles you? Giving yourself freedom to answer that question could prove monumental. Get real with God and get free from that which binds. We are ineffective if held in captivity to sin. It’s why Christ died for you and for me. Wresting with our sin is like saying what Jesus did is not enough. It was. It is.
Living a “thank you” life means meditating on what He did for us. Then, living like we believe we are God’s children – heirs to His kingdom. We are champions of hope! We are in the world, but not of the world. We are ambassadors of Christ himself – a living testimony to what He has done in our lives – offering hope to those in need of a savior.
How do you live a “thank you” life? You don’t go a day without remembering what has been done for you. It was personal. It’s our ticket to freedom and gives our life meaning and purpose, offering a refreshing lens to help us get up each day and face the world.
We are God’s children – fully free and forgiven by our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ – put here in this world and on this earth to be His light in this otherwise dark world. Go forth and shine!
For this reason, we can truly be thankful! Happy Thanksgiving!
