Category Archives: Praising God

At what price would you value Jesus?

What an odd question! Afterall, it is not like we are buying Jesus. Yet, how we “price” Jesus is very important in our relationship with God.

A few years ago, I read this verse in John 5:22-23:

  • “For the Father judges no one, but has given all judgment to the Son, that all may honor the Son, just as they honor the Father. Whoever does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent him. “

Verse 23, gave me pause. I think of God, the Father and honor Him. But, am I honoring Jesus? This verse makes it clear that we are “to honor” the Son, Jesus, as intentionally as we honor the Father. This verse highlights the truth that Jesus states in John 10:30 that the Father is One with the Son.

What does it mean to “honor”?
In the context of John 5:23, the word “honor” is used four times in this verse, and two times it is the same Greek word τιμῶσι transliterated timosi. It is first used in reference to God the Father, and the second time to Jesus, the Son.

What does τιμάω /τιμῶσι mean? Literally it means: to price; to fix a valuation on; to assign value/worth to a person or object; to prize with the implication of venerate and revere.(See: https://biblehub.com/greek/5091.htm and  https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/g5091/esv/mgnt/0-1/ )

We all associate “honor” with praise. Having a proper sense of the value of Jesus will lead to our praising Him as well as obeying Him in a devoted way.

Lack of Faith De-values Jesus
As we read the story of Jesus in the gospel of Matthew 27:9, we see that the sons of Israel (the “people of God”) valued Jesus at 30 pieces of silver.

  • “Then what was spoken through Jeremiah the prophet was fulfilled: “They took the thirty pieces of silver, the price set on Him by the people of Israel…”

The religious leaders of Israel and many of the sons of Israel did not believe that Jesus was the Son of God, Immanuel-God in the flesh (Read: Mt. 1:22-23; John 8:23-26). Because of their unbelief they de-valued Jesus. They did not “prize” Him therefore they did not hold him as sacred, and venerate Him or obey Him.

Growing in Valuing Jesus
One of the ways that I am coming to have a greater sense of “valuing/honoring” Jesus is by reading truths in the scriptures of what Jesus has done for me. As I read these verses I see Jesus more clearly.

But, before I go any further, I have to say that to “value” Jesus, I need to see the depth and the power of my sinful nature. It is kind of like seeing “prized” diamonds on a black backdrop. The black backdrop shows the brilliance of the diamonds.

So, let’s look at what we have in Jesus.

Redemption in Jesus
Romans 3:23-25b states that we have redemption in Jesus through His atoning blood.

  • “… for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by His grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God put forward as a propitiation (atonement) by his blood, to be received by faith.”

 We have redemption in Christ Jesus. He is my/your Redeemer. Jesus redeemed us, “bought us” out of the kingdom of darkness and brought us into His kingdom of light. Read Colossians 1:13-14, which reveals how the Father redeemed us through Jesus.

No Condemnation in Jesus
Romans 8:1-2 states that God in Jesus removes all condemnation from us. What a relief to our mind and spirit!

  • “There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death.”

Condemnation is a heavy word. In Greek it refers to a penalty handed down after due process shows guilt. Jesus’ sacrifice and atoning blood removes both our guilt and the penalty, which is spiritual death, eternal separation from God. Also read: Hebrews 2:9 and Romans 5:18.

Access to God through Jesus
I long to be near God, I think you do too or you would not be reading this. Jesus gives us access to God, to be able to draw near to Him, to be in His presence and to be able to interact with Him.

In speaking of the Gentiles and the Jews, the writer of the Ephesian letter reveals this truth about Jesus to us in Eph. 2:17-18:

  • “And He (Jesus) came and preached peace to you who were far away, and peace to those who were near; for through Him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father.”

And again, we see this truth in Ephesians 3:12, and Hebrews 10:19:

  • “In Him (Jesus) and through faith in Him we may enter God’s presence with boldness and confidence.”
  • “Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus…”

God’s Handiwork Created in Christ Jesus
When you are feeling that your life has no value, or you have no purpose meditate on this truth – a blessing in Jesus that is found in Ephesians 2:8-10:

  • “For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast.  For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.”

All who are in Christ through faith have been and are being made new. In Jesus. We are new creations, daily being changed and transformed in character and nature. This truth is confirmed in 2 Cor. 3:18:

  • “And we all, with unveiled face (nothing obscuring our sight), beholding the glory (and value) of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.” (Italics my words)

His Value Is Your Value
There are many other passages in the Bible that reveal what I call the “in, from, by and through Jesus” truths, and these passages showing us Jesus’ value, that we may honor/prize Him.

These truths help me grasp the value of Jesus and open my mind, will and soul to honor Jesus. In valuing Jesus, we begin to understand our value to Him and the Father.

I encourage you to use this article as the starting point for your own study and meditation on this idea of knowing the true value of Jesus and prizing Him.

Leaning Into God – Magnifying God-5

Ankyloglossia is the Greek term for “stiff-tongue.” It is a medical condition that a person is born with and can affect their ability to take nourishment, as well as impact speech as a child develops.

At times when I try to express my thanksgiving and praise to God, I feel like I have a “stiff tongue.” So, as you know from previous blog posts, this January I began a journey to learn from the Word of God how to express my thanksgiving and praise to Him. I have invited you on this journey.

 Deeper Gleanings
The learning curve is high. I am discovering direction from God in His word for what to praise him and even what to say as we saw in Psalm 66:3. Here the Spirit literally tells us what to say.

  • “Say to God, “How awesome are your deeds! How great is your power that your enemies cringe before You.”

As the Spirit reveals in the Word the what and the how about expressing thanks to God, I am also learning about the Who.  I am seeing God, His character; who He is; how He thinks about me (us), and how He interacts with us.

Thank You for Your Faithfulness
In my search for how to more adequately express my thanks and praise to God I learn from David in Psalm 138:2 that he advocates thanking and praising God for His faithfulness.

  • “I will bow down toward your holy temple and will praise your name for your unfailing love and your faithfulness.”

As we follow the psalmist’s lead and praise God for his faithfulness it opens a door for us the see God and to know Him as faithful to us.

Deuteronomy 7:9 makes a clear statement about the nature and character of God as being faithful.

  • “Know therefore that the LORD your God is God; He is the faithful God, keeping his covenant of love to a thousand generations of those who love him and keep his commandments.”

In Acts 2:38-39, we see the fulfillment pf this promise unto us and generations after us.

  • Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is for you and for your children and for all who are far off (generations to come), everyone whom the Lord our God calls to himself.”

Lean On Him
In Deuteronomy 7:9 God is identified as the faithful God. The word for faithful in that text is “aman” meaning confirming, supporting, reliable. The faithful one is the one who sustains, carries, nurtures, supports and builds up. The faithful one is trustworthy and can be leaned on. The faithful one is consistent in being true and right.

God, as the Faithful One is consistent in daily applying His love, mercy grace and care for us. In Lamentations 3:22-23, Jeremiah describes this faithfulness as emanating from God’s devotion to us.

  • “Because of the loving devotion of the LORD we are not consumed, for His mercies never fail. They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness!”

This truth about the faithful nature of God sounds a resounding chord of hope within me. It assures me that God is faithful to be forgiving and merciful to me every day.

I can lean on this truth when that accusatory voice sounds within me, reciting all the ways I failed, all the ways I missed the mark. That voice that reverberates with echoes of “you are not worthy; you are not good enough; yet again you messed up.”  It is that voice shaded in darkness that we all hear.

But, knowing that God is faithful, that He is consistent in His love and grace to us and that I can lean on Him for support in my weakness leads me to life, hope and faith. That hope explodes in praise to God for His faithfulness to me.

Facets of Faithfulness
There are many ways that God is faithful to us. As a meditation exercise, read the verses below. Let them speak to you and help connect with God’s faithfulness in your life.

God’s faithfulness is a protection.

  • “He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart.” Ps. 91:4

God’s faithfulness is eternal.

  • “Enter His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise; give thanks to Him and bless His name. For the LORD is good; his steadfast love endures forever, and his faithfulness to all generations.” Ps. 100:4-5

God’s work is done in faithfulness.

  • “For the word of the LORD is upright, and all his work is done in faithfulness. 33:4”

We see God is faithful in His work of salvation to us . This truth of God’s devoted faithfulness is attested to in 1 Corinthians 1:8-9.

  • “He will sustain you to the end, so that you will be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. God, who has called you into fellowship with His Son Jesus Christ our Lord, is faithful.”

The Faithful One is with us in the hard times.

When I am going through hard times it is difficult for me to see God’s faithfulness. Sometimes, in the fog of hurt and pain, I have to hold onto the truth of the scripture by making a choice to believe He is there. There are many promises of God’s faithfulness to us. Here are a few, add some of your favorite ones.

  • “No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.” 1 Corinthians 10:13
  • “God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in times of trouble.” Ps. 46:1
  • “Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will not fear for You are with me.” Ps. 23:4

Look for Faithfulness
Sometimes the stress and difficulties of life obscure God’s faithfulness to me. It is easy for me to recall the most wondrous act of God’s faithfulness in fulfilling His promise to send His Son to save us and to draw us into His presence.

I can trace this persistent faithfulness of God through the Old Testament and New Testament and into my life today.  But seeing His faithfulness as I walk through the events and relationships of my daily life takes an intentional focus.

The other day I was struggling with being hurt by a relationship that I have. Even after various steps of reconciliation, difficulties remained. I began to focus on the hurt, my thoughts produced fear and lack of peace and trust in God.

I began to look for God’s faithfulness to me in this.  I prayed for God to comfort me, to renew my thinking and faith about how He was feeling about me. Later that day I was listening to a spiritual song and it was like God himself encouraging me, reminding me of His grace and love for me.

Also, later that day I received an email from the person who is mediating this difficulty. In this email she communicated her love and acceptance for me. These were glimpses of God’s faithfulness to me.

Be intentional about seeing God’s faithfulness in your life.

  • Pray and ask God to show you, to open your eyes to see His faithfulness and open your ears to hear it.
  • Find a scripture that speaks God’s faithfulness to you. Read it as you ask God to help you see how it connects to you.
  • Make a mental picture of you in this faithfulness scripture. Mine is Ps. 23:4. In that picture I see myself a lamb walking through a shadowy valley, but I am at the side of the Good Shepherd, leaning into His leg. He has His staff in His right hand and every now and then He puts His hand on my head or back to reassure me that He is there.
  • Take time to think about all the ways God has shown His faithfulness to you.
  • Write them down, and then thank God for each one.

Chosen by God: Journey to Magnify God – 4

Mary, the mother of Jesus, praised God for being “chosen” by God to give birth to the Son of God. Jesus, the Son of God lived within Mary’s womb for nine months. Amazing to think that the majestic God who is full of glory and splendor lived within that very small space of her womb (Phil. 2:6-7).

Mary was confused and full of fear. She wondered how could such a thing happen. The angel told her it would be through the Holy Spirit that this would happen.

In the days in which Mary lived this “choosing” by God brought difficulty and suffering, possible death. An unwed mother in those days brought much shame and reproach upon herself. In Matthew we read that even her betrothed, Joseph, doubted her innocence and resolved to divorce her quietly (Matthew 1:19-20).

Yet, Mary gave thanks and praise to God for this honor, not only the honor of bringing the long-awaited Messiah, the Savior, into the world; but also, the honor of having God, the Son of God, live in her.

“And Mary said, “My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior. For He has looked with favor (grace) on the humble state of His servant. From now on all generations will call me blessed. For the Mighty One has done great things for me. Holy is His name. His mercy extends to those who fear Him, from generation to generation…” Luke 1:46-50

Mary: Not the Only Chosen One
Like Mary, you and I have been and are being chosen to have the presence of God inside of us, and to grow into that presence.

God is very upfront in revealing this truth to us that God, the Spirit of God lives in us.

Peter revealed this truth in Acts 2:38. This was a truth for his generation and for all the generations of true believers to come after.

Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. This promise belongs to you and your children and to all who are far off (from generation to generation) —to all whom the Lord our God will call to Himself.” Acts 2:38-39

Other scriptures verify this truth:

  • “Guard the good deposit that was entrusted to you—guard it with the help of the Holy Spirit who lives in us.”  2 Timothy 1:14
  • “. . . the Spirit of truth. The world cannot receive Him, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him. But you do know Him, for He abides with you and will be in you.” John 14:7
  • “ But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you.” Romans 8:11

These are deep truths.  Do I believe them? Will I hold unto them when the evidence of my own life contradicts them? Will I let them set me free?

Christ Growing in You
As Jesus grew inside the womb of Mary, so He is growing inside each believer.

As I give space to Jesus by dying to myself, Jesus’ nature and character are being formed within me and I am becoming more “one” with Him. Scriptures promise us this, John 17:20-23.

You may think if you knew me and how messed up I am, and even how very unlike Jesus I am; you would know how hard it is to believe this.

It is hard for me to believe this, especially when I look at myself and do not look at Jesus or the power of His Spirit to raise up and to give life. It is hard for me to believe when I try to fix or change myself and do not give myself over to the truth and the power of God’s Spirit.

When Mary was struggling with belief and trying to “reason it out” she asked the angel, “How can this be?” The angel answered her that the Holy Spirit would come upon her and do this. (Luke 1:34-35)

God encourages us with the same words when we try to reason out how can this change happen. God says it is the Spirit who does this.

Meditate on these truths:

  • And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit. 2 Cor. 3:18
  • But we should always give thanks to God for you, brethren beloved by the Lord, because God has chosen you from the beginning for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and faith in the truth. 2 Thessalonians 2:13
  • He saved us, not by the righteous deeds we had done, but according to His mercy, through the washing of new birth and renewal by the Holy Spirit. This is the Spirit He poured out on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that, having been justified by His grace, we would become heirs with the hope of eternal life. Titus 3:5-7
  • Such were some of you; but you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and in the Spirit of our God. 1 Corinthians 6:11

So then …
As you contemplate how to give thanks to God and how to formulate your words of praise to Him think about praising Him for “choosing to live inside of you.”

As you take time to praise God ,let the understanding of who God is, and what He is doing in you be magnified to you  – and reflect on these questions:

  • What does the story of Mary’s having been chosen and the scriptures of you being chosen to have God in you, say to you? What words describe your feelings about this?
  • How does this truth that “God lives in you” change your view of who you are and what your value is?
  • What are ways that you have seen Christ growing in you? List these and give thanks to God for this growth.

But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.        1 Peter 2:9

Remember, Recount, Revived!

When I was growing up there was a boy in my class in elementary school who stuttered. His name was Johnny. His stuttering was to such a degree that he rarely was able to express his thoughts, ideas and feelings. His frustration was palpable, you could see it and feel it in the air. I see Johnny’s face to this day, the frustration, the sadness  and shame that he could not share his ideas and his heart with us. I wish I could have helped him.

In my quest to learn how to magnify God and to praise Him, I can experience a similar frustration as Johnny did. I stutter to magnify God – to make Him big; to tell of Him in a way that brings His value and His glory to light.

What kinds of words do we use that are capable of showing how great and wonderful God is? What can I say that can enlarge God to others in such  a way that they see His nature, His power and His love in a very real way?

I was reading in Psalm 66 the other day and I realized that God actually tells us how to do this. In Psalm 66:3, the Spirit says: “Say to God, “How awesome are your deeds! How great is your power that your enemies cringe before you.”

The Spirit is telling us what to say in order to magnify God to others, and what to say as we praise God in our private and public worship.

I could not help Johnny in elementary school to express himself, but today through the word of God, the Spirit helps me express praise to God and magnify Him.

Say It! Again!
When I recount or re-tell the awesome deeds of God, I am magnifying Him to others and praising Him. This thought is presented over and over again in the scriptures. Here are a few references to this way of magnifying God.

  • “Let each generation tell its children of your mighty acts; let them proclaim your power. They speak of the glorious splendor of your majesty— and I will meditate on your wonderful works. They tell of the power of your awesome works— and I will proclaim your great deeds.” Psalm 145:4-6
    (We magnify God to our children by recounting His wonderful deeds, in so doing they know God and learn to trust Him).
  • “Let them give thanks to the Lord for his unfailing love and his wonderful deeds for mankind.” Psalm 107:21
  • I will give thanks to the LORD with my whole heart; I will recount all of your wonderful deeds. I will be glad and exult in you; I will sing praise to your name, O Most High

What are the wonderful deeds of God?
They are many, we can’t recount them all. We do not know them all. But when you are meditating on the wonderful deeds of God think about what is written in the Word. Think of how he planned, even before the creation of the world, to save us through the redemptive work of His Son, Jesus, (Ephesians 1:4-7)

Think about how God created the world out of nothing, just from the power of His thoughts and words. (Genesis 1-2; Hebrews 11:3)

Think about the wonderful deeds God performed to deliver Israel from slavery in Egypt, and to deeds God performed to establish His King, our Messiah in this world.

Think of the wonderful deeds Jesus did that reveal the character and heart of God. Think of how Jesus gave sight to the blind; showed compassion and healed the lepers; straightened crooked limbs; gave life to withered hands; healed the body and the souls by forgiving sins; raised the dead, and many more.

We cannot magnify God to others, or worship and praise Him without recounting His wondrous deeds, because God is these deeds.

Remembering + Recounting = Revival
Recounting the wondrous deeds of God is a way we praise God, but in so doing it also can revive our faith in Him and restore in our hearts a sense of awe for God.

This idea of recounting and reviving is described very specifically in Psalm 77. The psalmist is  experiencing hard times. He talks  about groaning, sleepless nights, and an inability to express his struggle in words.

In his personal agony he questions God’s love and care of him. He accuses God of rejecting  and forgetting him, Psalm 77:7-8. He doubts God’s love for him, and questions if there ever was love from God for him, Psalm 77:8. He feels that he cannot trust God’s promises and wonders if God has any sense of compassion for him, Ps. 77:8b-9.

I have felt some of those things at times; forgotten and pushed aside by God, and questioned God’s trustworthiness. The psalmist searches his memory and what he knows of God. As he does this he reviews the wondrous deeds of God.

So, he remembers and recounts the wondrous deeds of God, and as he does his faith is revived and he concludes:

“ I will remember the deeds of the LORD; yes, I will remember your miracles of long ago. I will consider all your works and meditate on all your mighty deeds. Your ways, God, are holy. What God is as great as our God? You are the God who performs miracles; you display your power among the peoples. “ Psalm 77:11-14

Remembering and recounting or re-telling the wondrous deeds of God, revives my faith!

God’s Ultimate Wondrous Deed
We may never be able to recount all the wondrous deeds of God, because we do not know all of them. However, the greatest of the wondrous deeds has been revealed to us and that is God was sending His Son into this world in the form of a man to become the ultimate sin offering to atone for our sins that we might come into God’s presence, into a right relationship with God. And, that through His Spirit, God would live inside of us. Let’s read a little about this wondrous deed.

  • “… all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. God presented Christ as a sacrifice of atonement, through the shedding of his blood—to be received by faith.” Romans 3:24-25a
  • “Brothers and sisters, because of the blood of Jesus we can now confidently go into the holy place (the presence of God).” Hebrews 10:19 (GWT)
  • “And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.” 2 Cor. 3:18

This short article cannot adequately express the wondrous deeds of God, so let’s end with this prayer.

Father God, teach us about you, how magnificent and wonderful you are. Teach us how to magnify you to others by knowing and  recounting your wondrous deeds. Help us to see and understand the wondrous salvation you provided for us through the atoning blood of Jesus, through his resurrection; and the breathtaking truth that Your Spirit lives in us and transforms us to be like you.

      “Magnify the LORD with me; let us exalt His name together.” Psalm 34:3

Alert forThanksgiving!

ANXIOUS! UNEASE! VIGILANT! ON STANDBY! TRUSTING! ADAPTING!. These are all terms that might express your status as we end week six of sheltering in place.  Perhaps you are a mixture of these or you fluctuate from one state to the next. Some days we may experience a sense of adaptation and making the most of the situation, while other days we may be struggling to think straight.

In week 5 I had some ups and downs as I tried moving forward. I found myself on edge asking my husband questions like, “Well, what did you mean by that?” Or “Why are you doing that?”  I am not sure what I felt, maybe at best I felt a pervasive unease which seemed to have no source. A spirit of restlessness and unease began to slowly and subtly wear away at peace and joy.

As a believer in God, when I am off center, I know I need to take time out and refocus through reading the word of God and prayer. Being still with God not only renews my spirit but it also resets my mind. (Ps. 46:10 – Be still! and know that I am God…)

So I began my time of “stillness” with reading about prayer and communicating to God about this sense of unease or generic discontent that I was feeling. As I read, an interesting pattern emerged, that is: prayer was often mentioned in association with thanksgiving.

The Bond of Thanksgiving and Prayer
Let’s look at a few of these passages.

  • Philippians 4:6
    Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.  And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
  • 1 Timothy 2:1
    First of all, then, I urge that petitions, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgiving be offered on behalf of all men
  • Colossians 4:2
    Devote yourselves to prayer, keeping alert in it with an attitude of thanksgiving;
  • 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
    Rejoice always;pray without ceasing; in everything give thanks; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.
  • Ephesians 1:15-16
    For this reason, ever since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all God’s people, I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers.
  • Psalm 100:4
    Enter His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise; give thanks to Him and bless His name.
    (The expression “enter his gates” and “enter his courts” refers to the Israelites coming into the temple which was the central place where they met with God, where they communed with God in songs and in prayer. The expressions “enter His gates and come into His courts” are in a sense, signifying coming into the presence of God. We commune with God through prayer and meditation. According to this verse then, we should always enter our time with God; enter His presence in prayer with thanksgiving.).

The more I read the clearer the bond between prayer and thanksgiving became. I conclude: thanksgiving is an essential element in my relationship with God. It is the defining characteristic demonstrating trust in my Father and dependence on him.

A Key to Entering the Presence of God
In the Old Testament scriptures, we read that giving thanks and praise to God was akin to offering a sacrifice to God. The giving of thanks to God was an integral part of worshiping God, honoring God and being in relationship with God.

  • Psalm 116:17
    I will offer to You a sacrifice of thanksgiving and call on the name of the LORD.
  • Psalm 107:22
    Let them offer sacrifices of thanksgiving and declare His works with rejoicing.
  • Psalm 54:6
    Freely I will sacrifice to You; I will praise Your name, O LORD, for it is good.

As I read these passages my heart felt lighter. God redirected my mind. I focused on the things of light and goodness in my life. I had been looking at what I couldn’t do; at how I felt restricted; at the difficulty of being still, and perhaps the reality of what God was showing me about myself.

TRANSFORMATIONS of THANKSGIVING
I began deliberately choosing to thank God for everything. That is when I noticed a change, a light-heartedness, a more genuine faith and joy.

When I express thanks to God regularly throughout my day it changes my focus from “me” to God and others.

Thanksgiving and Perspective
Giving thanks to God transforms my perspective. Instead of looking at restrictions, I see abundance and new space.

In Psalm 18:19, David proclaims the blessing of God broadening his view after God delivers him from his enemy.

  • “He brought me out into a spacious place; he rescued me because he delighted in me. Ps. 18:19.”

Like David, if we focus on thanking God and seeing his blessing we will feel we are in a safe, spacious place.

Thanksgiving and Mood
Focusing on giving thanks to God changes my perspective which results in changing my  mood. The act of thanking and praising God lifts up my spirit and fills me with joy because I am focusing on the wonderful deeds of God.

David expresses this process and truth. Focusing on God and trusting in Him yields joy.

  • “The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and he helps me. My heart leaps for joy, and with my song I praise him.” Ps. 28:7-8

Thanksgiving and Relationships
Another blessing from giving thanks to God is realized in our relationships. When I began choosing to thank God, it was like I had a new way of seeing. I began seeing characteristics of God in my interactions with and thoughts of people.

In Colossians 3:12-13, we are reminded that because of the great salvation worked for us by God, we, out of thanks and awe to God, turn and bless others by deliberately putting on compassion, and forgiveness.

  • “Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.” Col. 3:12-13

Feel It or Not – Give Thanks!
Giving thanks to God is an act of the will. Yes, there are times of great emotional response, an out pouring of thanks to God. Yet remember, “thanksgiving” requires loving God with our mind as well as heart and soul. It means I deliberately think of God and His goodness; His wondrous deeds; and His faithful love. Choose to thank God every day! Thank God for 7 things every day and record the transformations you see in your perspective, mood and relationships.

So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught,
and overflowing with thankfulness.
Col. 2:6-7

The Breath of Thanks-giving

Thanksgiving is celebrated once a year in the United States. It had its roots in humble hearts coming together to thank God for providing for life. I am not sure that “Thanksgiving” has retained that purpose in this age. Nevertheless, we should consider the quality of thankfulness not solely in the context of a national holiday, but more appropriately as a characteristic of our soul.

Gratitude is a perspective we choose to take in life. There is no doubt that such a perspective can bless our life, but if we are not careful our gratitude can become just a step in our pursuit of a happy life. If you are a believer in God and Jesus Christ then you need to consider the place that giving thanks to God has in your spiritual life.

Thanksgiving and Faith
In the Gospel of Luke there is an account of ten lepers who were healed by Jesus (Luke 17:11-19). One of these men returned to give thanks to Jesus.

Jesus makes an important statement to this one grateful man: And He said to him, “Rise and go your way; your faith has made you well.” Luke 17:19 (ESV)

Jesus connected this man’s gratitude with his faith. It was the man’s faith that caused him to come back and thank Jesus. It was perhaps at the moment of healing that this man really saw and believed who Jesus is.

Jesus said this man’s faith made him well. Perhaps Jesus is not talking about the initial faith the man had that lead him to ask to be healed, but rather the belief about Jesus as the LORD and One Who truly saves.

Jesus then pronounced the man well. The word “well” has several meanings: to be healed; to be made whole; to be delivered or rescued; or in a spiritual sense to be saved.  The other nine men were cleansed from leprosy, but this man was made whole. His body and soul were made whole, were delivered, and were saved.

Breathe In and Breathe Out Thanks
Air with its different components, but most primarily oxygen, is necessary for our physical life and proper functioning of all of our body. Giving thanks should be as vital to our soul and spirit as breathing in oxygen is to our body.

If you are a person who believes in Jesus, the Son of God, then consider some of the blessings that you have received in and through Jesus. In this article, I would like to connect our thanks-giving focus to the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Perhaps meditating on some of these blessings will not only enrich your celebration of Thanksgiving this year, but also help you to develop “the breath of thanks-giving.”

Life Giving Blessings
To begin our journey of developing the “breath of thanks-giving,” start by meditating on the three blessings in Christ that are briefly referenced below.

Friendship with God: God is not a cold, distant being. He desires a relationship/friendship with us, and we receive a living relationship with God as a gift through Jesus.

“For since our friendship with God was restored by the death of his Son while we were still his enemies, we will certainly be saved through the life of his Son. So now we can rejoice in our wonderful new relationship with God because our Lord Jesus Christ has made us friends of God.” Romans 5:10-11 NLT

Free from the Weight of Guilt and Condemnation
As a young woman I had difficulty forgiving a relative. It was like a ball and chain on my leg. As I learned about and accepted Jesus’s forgiveness of me, I was able to forgive and be set free from the weight of guilt; the weight of the condemnation I felt for not forgiving and the weight of the condemnation I held over the other person.

“So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus. And because you belong to him, the power of the life-giving Spirit has freed you from the power of sin that leads to death.” Romans 8:1-2 NLT

The Mother of All “Do Overs”
I don’t know about you, but I have often wished for a second chance, a do over with various aspects of my character, choices or relationships in life. In Jesus we are made new spiritually. It is the grand do over.

“He died for everyone so that those who receive his new life will no longer live for themselves. Instead, they will live for Christ, who died and was raised for them . . . Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.” 2 Corinthians 5:15, 17

“For we died and were buried with Christ by baptism. And just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glorious power of the Father, now we also may live new lives. For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his.” Romans 6: 4-5 ESV

On Your Own
These are only three blessings that were selected for this posting. There are many more blessing in Jesus. As you read through the scriptures begin journaling blessings in Jesus that can be found in both the New Testament and the Old Testament.

Collect and treasure the blessings you have. Breathe them into your spirit and then breathe them out into life.

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“I will always thank the LORD; I will never stop praising him.
My soul makes its boast in the LORD…” Psalm 34:1-2a