Day 22 - Thankfulness

I made my commitment to follow Jesus just over 50 years ago so I probably have enough life experience to write a reasonable ‘product’ review.

At a ripe old age of nearly 21, in a worldly sense, I had every going for me. But my life back then felt empty, I was lost and did not look forward to my future with a great deal of hope.

However, the commitment I made at that time was not just a passing phase (as my parents insisted) but rather a complete change in life’s direction. The realisation that God not only loved me enough to want to have a relationship with me, that He had a purpose for me, gave me hope both for this life and even a hope beyond death!

From that time onwards, so much of the religious cliché that had previously surrounded me started to take on new meaning. My heart was strangely warmed when I sang the same old Christmas carols and hymns but now knowing the God that had inspired them. Carols such as Joy to the World still bring tears to my eyes at this time of year!

With the Psalmist I can truly say that:

“He inclined to me and heard my cry. He brought me up out of the pit of destruction, out of the miry clay. He set my feet upon a rock making my footsteps firm. He put a new song in my mouth, a song of praise to our God”. (Psalm 40)

For that alone I would be eternally thankful.

But God did not stop there. He adopted me into His family here on Earth, granted me a wonderful wife, family and fellowship and so many other blessings that they are too numerous to count. Does this mean that life has been without difficulty. By no means! But God has always been there in them. Over time, the steadfast love of God and His Son has proved His Word trustworthy and true. In these days of fake everything, God and His Word remain solid ground.

How is it that the creator of this vast universe not only considers this tiny speck of dust, which is the Earth, but that He cares for each of the tiny specs of dust that inhabit it. Again, the Psalmist captures this beautifully when he writes:

“When I look at the night sky and see the work of your fingers — the moon and the stars you set in place — what are mere mortals that you should think about them, human beings that you should care for them?” (Psalm 8)

I still am amazed that He wants to have anything to do with me but I am grateful that He is still there, loving and blessing.

Thank you Lord that you love and care for each of us enough that you chose to die for us.

Steve Horton