Posted on November 26, 2023 Posted By: HCCCategories: journey
Heartland Community Church
THE JOURNEY
Be Grateful
By Sarah Hahs
I have loved this series, Letters From Future Me. What a beautiful thought that I could come back in time and impart wisdom to my past self. And I have spent several weeks thinking about what I would tell myself. Would I tell myself that the life in the big city apartment that I was convinced would happen would actually be a life in the country in a small town not far from where I grew up? Or that life on stage without a husband and children would actually be a life entertaining four children and a husband around a dinner table every night? If I’m honest, probably not. If I could go back, it would be to tell past me the letter that was handed out after the service, which is this…
“The one thing I know that will make the most difference in your life is this: God says, ‘You are mine. I love you. I am so incredibly proud of you.’”
It’s a truth that past me would have loved to hear. It would have saved me some missteps in the name of identity searching. It would have given me a grace I should have extended to some people when I was younger. Because that statement isn’t just true for me, it’s true for everyone. You are His. You are loved (more than you can ever fathom), and He is incredibly proud of you.
How can I be grateful for all I have now, with what God has given me or not given me (because that can be a gift, too)? How can I be grateful now for all the past grace I’ve been given and the identity God has instilled in me? It helps to have an ongoing relationship with the one who has given me all those things. An ongoing conversation with God, who can traverse all time and space to bring you wisdom, truth, and grace because He knows everything in my heart. It’s not hard. You have to start and then keep doing it. He is there writing letters to you. Speaking to you over and over that you are His, that He loves you, and that He is proud of you. Rejoice in that today and in the future.
Be joyful always. Never stop praying. Give thanks for everything. What would a day look like if I took this to heart, and intentionally did all three? What would a week, a month, a year or a life look like with this posture of intention? May we each find ourselves choosing joy, continuous prayer, and gratitude in all things.
Paul reminds us that we can be joyful always, even in the hard times, because we have Jesus and the hope and promise of salvation and eternal life. Take a few moments today to consider that God chose YOU, and gave Jesus as a sacrifice for YOU. Write out a prayer of thanks for this truth.
Take this prayer with you today and consider it’s meaning in your comings and goings. What would the God of peace offer in your conversations, or work meetings, or studies? Where would you like God’s influence to keep you holy (more like Jesus) and blameless? How might you delcary your trust in God to do these things, to keep his promises? Let Paul’s words expand your perspective on God.
"Consider it an opportunity for great joy…" What hard things are you facing today that are opportunities for joy? What hard things have you come through that you could look back on with the joy of hindsight? Where can you see God moving right now, and throughout your life?
In community, this posture of gratitude might look like what we see in Galatians 6. As you read, consider how you might share in someone’s burden and lighten their load. How might you encourage someone who is struggling? How can you choose to conduct yourself at work and in relationships with dignity? Let’s us not become tired of doing what is right and good in God’s eyes.
{extra journey resources}
CLICK HERE to visit The Bible Project site and explore their super simple, super informative Bible videos (and other resources). You can also download The Bible Project App HERE.
CLICK HERE to get the Read Scripture App, from our friends at The Bible Project.
CLICK HERE for more on how to use the observe-reflect-apply approach to getting the most out of your Bible reading.
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Bible Gateway Provides advanced Bible searching capabilities, which allow readers to find passages in scripture based on keywords, phrases, or scripture reference.
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