The one who offers thanksgiving as his sacrifice glorifies me (Psalm 50:23 ESV).
Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift! (2 Cor. 9:15 NIV)
Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus (1 Thess. 5:16-18 NIV).
Heavenly Father, on this lovely Sunday in May, we want to fill your courts with praise and our hearts with gratitude. It’s the best way to sabotage our bent towards comparison, entitlement, and discontent.
First of all, thank you for the “indescribable gift” of the gospel. Because of Jesus, no condemnation is left for our sin. Jesus’ perfect righteousness is declared to be ours and we’ll never experience separation from your love. This being true, how is it even possible for us to indulge grumbling and whining?
Your Word commends contentment with food and clothes (1 Tim. 6:7-10), but you give us a gazillion times more. We have citizenship in heaven, our names are written into the Lamb’s book, and we’re co-heirs with Jesus of everything.
And, Father, thank you for being tenaciously at work for our good in all things—in the things that thrill us, and the things that vex us; in the wounds that still hurt us, and the failures that still haunt us; in the “unanswered” prayers, and in the unexpected gifts.
Indeed, you are at work in delayed flights and countless delights; in the biggest fish we’ll ever catch and the biggest disappointments we’ll ever feel; in our extended families, and the extension of our waiting; and in the circumstances, people, and stories over which we have zilch control. All of these are the canvas upon which your hand paints with the multi-color ink of grace.
Thank you for being totally sovereign and only good—when we see it and when we don’t. By your Holy Spirit, quickly sabotage our discontent, ingratitude, and gospel amnesia. So very Amen we pray, in Jesus’ exalted and trustworthy name.