TEN LIFE RESOLUTIONS FROM GOD'S WORD (PART 7)

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In Christ, Mark

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The scriptures. May God bless the reading of His holy word.

And be thankful.

Colossians 3:15b

This ends this reading from God's holy word. Thanks be to God.

We have been looking at ten life resolutions from God’s word as found in the second and third chapters of Colossians, the letter that the Apostle Paul wrote to the believers in a church he had never visited before. His words, intended to help the new Christians in Colossae know how to live for Christ, still serve to counsel us today more than 2.000 years later.

Today, our seventh resolution is a simple one but one that couldn’t be more important. It is simply this:

Be thankful.

Like the other life resolutions we have covered, note that showing gratitude isn’t an option. The scriptures are suggesting we consider giving thanks for all we have had, all we have, and all we are yet to gain. Rather, the Lord is demanding that we be thankful. He shouldn’t have to but He does because too often we totally get this resolution wrong.

It’s true, right?

You see, we have a tendency to sit around and complain more than we appreciate life. We begrudge our circumstances and allow despair and depression to creep into our life attitude, leaving us feeling miserable and in sorrow.

This isn’t the kind of life the Lord intends for us to have. Not even close. For He has done too much good for us and is willing to do good for us if we just trust Him. Look at these verses and you’ll see His word has promised as much:

“I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” Jeremiah 29:11

We know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose. Romans 8:28

If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare His own Son, gave Him up for us all—how will He not also, along with Him, graciously give us all things? Romans 8:31-32

Friends, our God is faithful and good. He is our Father and we are His children, and He loves us perfectly. He wants the best for us more than any human parent has ever wanted for their kids.

Are you willing to believe this today, as well as every day ahead, and be thankful?

Here’s something else we can do to help us carry out this resolution and it’s born out of the following saying that you might have head before:

"Count your blessings...and when you get done, count them again."

Here’s one way to take this saying and put it into practice.

First, take out a pad of paper and start writing down everything you see as a blessing in your life. Don’t spare the smallest details when you make your list.

Think about what you have more than what you don’t.

Think about your family and friends.

Think about your work and/or any assistance you may receive and how it helps provide income to cover your expenses.

Think about how the Lord has blessed others around you, affirming promises He has made through His word.

Go outside and just open your eyes to all that you see, God’s amazing creation.

Intentionally consider every breath and how the Lord gives you the air to breathe and stay alive.

Use your finger to feel your pulse and know that every heartbeat is from a heart God designed to course life sustaining blood through your body.

I could go on and on but you get the point. If we really take the time to count our blessings, we will see that we have far more reason to be thankful than otherwise. The positives we will realize will overshadow the negatives.

Friends, we can’t afford to lose sight of all the great and awesome things the Lord has done, is doing, and is yet to do. The mere fact that we’re alive right now as I write this and you will later read what the Lord has provided me is a great reason to be thankful...and we need to keep it that simple because it’s often the little things in life that we take for granted the most.

Indeed, God has blessed us with the gift of life this very moment even though we deserve nothing good from Him. We’re all sinners who stand before an all powerful Lord who despises sin and yet instead of receiving the wrath we deserve, He loves and cares for us.

How far did God’s love go?

For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life. John 3:16

God loved you so much that He wasn’t willing to let you perish.

Be thankful.

So that you wouldn’t face His judgment and wrath, He willingly offered up His one and only Son Jesus to suffer and die in your place.

Be thankful.

And unwilling to allow death to have the victory over Jesus or anyone who would believe in Him afterwards, God raised His Son from death to everlasting life so that any Christ follower might have the same opportunity. Because of God’s redeeming work through our Savior Jesus, you are saved if you have placed your belief in Him.

If you are saved, be eternally thankful.

The next time circumstances start to drag you down the road of resenting the life that you have, take the time to count your blessings and when you do, look to the cross and remember how very grateful you should be. If you do, I believe you will find your life attitude turn to gratitude as you show appreciation toward God who gives us every good and perfect thing from above, now and forever more (James 1:17).

Amen.

In Christ,

Mark

PS: Feel free to leave a comment and please share this with anyone you feel might be blessed by it. Send any prayer requests to Gods4all@aol.com