“May my entire being praise the Lord. I purpose not to forget a single benefit that is mine through Jesus’ finished work and my union with Christ.” Paraphrase Psalm 103:2
Lord Jesus, just as I recently rejoined the “Y” to deal with the atrophy of my muscle-mass, but I’m also declaring war on the atrophy of my “gratitude-mass.” I want to finish my journey Home “ripped” with thankfulness muscles, sporting “6-pack-abs” of gratitude. So before I drive to the “Y” in the next hour, I’m starting my Monday with a grace-workout and mercy-reps.
What reason do me and my praying friends have to be grateful? For starters, Jesus thank you for an over-the-top glorious salvation. You are 100% of our “righteousness, holiness, and redemption” (1Cor.1:30). We are hidden in you (Col.3:1-4), rooted in your love (Eph.3:17-19), and standing in your grace (Rom.5:1-2). The sun will rise in the shape of a flashing neon-purple-lighted dolphin sooner than you will stop loving us, cease working in all things for our good, and renege on your commitment to make all things new.
You, Jesus, have defeated the devil and he knows his time is short (Rev.12:12). You set an expiration date on everything broken, evil, and vile—everything grace-contradicting, beauty-marring, and disease-dealing (Rev.21:1-5). You, Abba, and the Spirit are nervous about nothing, laugh at evil’s attempt to dethrone y’all (Psalm 2), and have planned an eternity for us beyond all we can ask or imagine (Eph.3:20, 1Cor.2:9).
Death doesn’t win. You did. “Crazy-making” doesn’t get the last word. You do. Trauma, loving-poorly, abuse—broken promises, broken hearts, broken trust will not prevail. You will. Our (as in mine and my friends’) selfishness, unbelief, pettiness, Gospel-amnesia, and grace-allergies are not ultimate You are. Hallelujah, Jesus, and So Very Amen.