A Letter of Thanksgiving

God, Oh Most High, how can I thank you? Creator of the heavens, Lord of the living and the dead what words could express my gratitude for your excellence? Father of lights, in whom there is no variation or shadow of turning, every good and perfect gift comes from you.  You who are higher than the heavens, whose voice is like the sound of many waters, have chosen to give ear to your people. Therefore I long to give you thanks!

If I dance like David until there is no strength left within me would that give you thanks? If I sing with the voice of an angel and play upon the harp or flute where the sound is perfect pitch would that honor you? If I give all my possessions to the poor and live a life of destitution would your glory be revealed?

Even in my thoughts of how to give you thanks, you have directed me through your Word. You guide my steps and light a path for my feet. You lift up my hands and strengthen my feeble knees.  You lead me by the still waters and restore my soul. You teach me your ways that I may walk in your truth. You unite my heart to fear your name. You are my joy in the morning and my comfort when I lay upon my bed at night. Yet, how can I thank you?

I was stranger to your covenant of promise having no hope and without God in the world. I conducted myself in the lusts of my flesh; fulfilling the desires of the flesh and my mind as a child of wrath.  While dead in trespass and sin Christ died for me. My glorious Lord, how do I thank you?

Your Word has told me what is good and what you require of me, to do justly and love mercy and to walk humbly with the Lord my God. Your Word has told me that you desire mercy and not sacrifice. Therefore, I will thank you through obedience to what you desire. I will submit my whole heart and search for you with all my soul. I will lift up clean hands (my actions) with a pure heart and love you with all sincerity and no hypocrisy. If I live the rest of my life each day in obedience to your Word, surely I would begin to say, thank you?

We are not alone.....Christ in us!

We all endure the challenges of life in this world. These tests vary within each individual member in His body. Today there are many struggling with illnesses and death, strained relationships, loss of loved ones, stresses of life, fear and anxiety of the unknown. Although I recognize all of these issues to be real and present, for those of us who have been purchased by the blood of Jesus and born from above we are not alone!

Not only are God Almighty’s eyes upon us and His ears open to our cries, His Spirit that raised Christ from the dead dwells within us. Our natural human spirit and/or souls can not endure the trails of life and overcome victoriously. We must remember the great mystery that has been revealed to us, Christ in us is the hope of glory. God’s Spirit and His Word dwell within His people. God’s Spirit is the guide that illuminates His Word within us. He did not leave us as orphans without hope and alone. When our Lord was to ascend on high to sit at the right hand of our Father, He said that He would ask the Father and the Father will give us another comforter. At that time Jesus was the comforter. Now He would no longer be physically present to address all of the needs of His people, therefore our Father gave us of His Spirit. He said, The Spirit of truth, whom the world can not receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you. Glory be to God Most High!

This mystery is what makes us a peculiar people, a royal nation a holy priesthood; the undeniable truth that we are not alone. Jesus said, if a man loves me, he will keep my Words; and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him. (This word abode means; dwelling, staying, abiding) We must not be like those men that were gazing into heaven after Jesus ascended looking for help. We must look within ourselves where God’s Word and Spirit reside and find comfort in our time of need and at all times.

Beloved, this present life is temporary with all its difficulties. We must remember that our God said and it is written, Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor have entered into the heart of man, the things which God has prepare for those who love Him. But, God has revealed them to us through His Spirit.

In every plight of this life God has made provision for us in that He is within us. God promised saying, I will never leave you nor forsake you. He also said, lo, I am with you always even to the end of the age. 

Therefore, we are not alone...