Gratefulness

As I write this today, my heart is full. Full because of the goodness of the Lord in my life. Full because of all the good things of the Lord in my life. Sometimes, I simply sit and stand amazed at how much I am loved. These good things revolve around his blessing through my family, my friends, the resources I have, the situations I find myself in, and much more. Yes, at times I question whether I am loved at all but those are quick feeble moments that fade when I stop to reassess my life and look at all the good gifts and promises of the Lord. And so, as I sit with a full heart this afternoon, I simply want to encourage you to be grateful for what the Lord has done in your life because guess what? He has done good things and is doing good things in your life. Here are attributes and attitudes of God for which I am grateful for:

1. Salvation

It might sound cliché and too common, but I am and hope to always be thankful for the salvation of my Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. If he hadn’t died on the cross for me, I would not have the privilege to come into the presence of my God, I wouldn’t even know what to do or what door to knock on when trouble would come my way. I wouldn’t know my identity, I wouldn’t know how to walk in God’s path, how to know there is a way. I am forever grateful for this gift for it is a gift indeed. While I was still a sinner Christ died for me. It does not get any better than this brethren.

2. The Presence of God

The second thing I am grateful for is for the presence of God in my life. The presence of the Holy Spirit that guides me in every single aspect. To have the ability to recognise when something is of God and when it is not only comes from God’s very own presence. I am grateful for the Holy Spirit in my life because through the Spirit, I am made aware of my sin, I am made aware of actions that I take that are against or for God. The Spirit of God is with me all the time. This is huge. I have been instructed by the Holy Spirit, I have been convicted by the Holy Spirit because being in the presence of God, you cannot stay the same, what is not of God in you will come out and you will have to reckon with it. Indeed, my God, I thank thee for your presence.

3. The protection of God

This might be one of the many things that God does for me and for which I seldom pause to wonder about. But recently in my life, God reminded me of how much He protects me and cares for me. I was overwhelmed and overjoyed. I then continued to praise Him for the many ways in which He protects me and of which I am unaware. Because of His care and love for me, He protects me and watches over me. I am the apple of his eyes after all am I not? If you are in Christ, then rest assured you too are. He is the good shepherd as he says in John 10 so I can rest assured I am in good hands.

4. The Love of God

It is the great love of God that makes everything possible. In His love, the Father sent his Son into the world to die for the world to reconcile the world to Him. The love of God is so powerful that it seeks and saves the lost. It is so powerful that it will not abandon even when rejected. The Love of God is simply one of the attributes of God that defines God and of which I am in awe as I recognise that I do not understand it fully and my finite mind does not seem to get it at times. It seeks to justify that love at times when nothing can really justify it. God is love and His love reaches to His entire creation. He is ready to wrap you with His love if you will only receive and accept it.

5. The faithfulness of God

The fifth attribute of God of which I am so thankful for is his faithfulness. It is one attribute that is so clear to me as I stand in the presence of God, studying his Word or simply reflecting on his character. I believe it is also an attribute of which I often speak and come back to. I suppose, one could say I never get enough of his faithfulness simply because I wonder how someone can be so faithful to the point where he cannot disown himself (2 Corinthians 2:13)? It baffles me and as I look at my life and I see his constant faithfulness even at times where I was not faithful, at times where I doubted him (and there have been many) I can only be amazed and can simply say thank you. My God is out of this world. There is none like Him.

6. The joy of the Lord

Finally, this is not necessarily an attribute of God per se, but it is an effect of walking with God for which I am thankful for. His Joy. The joy of the Lord is my strength is very popular and I often say it to myself when times are tough, or when I feel like giving up. But what I find interesting with the joy of the Lord is that you can have it when circumstances around you are not the best, when there is tumult and turmoil. Just like his peace, he puts a new song in my mouth, and it does not matter what I am going through. This usually happens when I am in his presence, have abandoned myself to his will and praise him in the midst of my trials.

So then my friend, God is good, God is everything that you need and much more. These are just a few of his attributes, characters, and actions for which I am grateful for. What are you grateful for? If you are going through a valley, remember how God carried you through on the mountain, remember what the Lord has done, and you will have a grateful heart. God often told his people the Israelites to remember what He had done so that they would not lose heart when faced with difficulties and also to exalt the Lord their God as He should be but they often forgot and that led to their disaster. So today, let us learn from their mistakes and let us remember what the Lord has done for us and be grateful for it. He is good.