Here we are just a few days before Thanksgiving. Maybe you’ve just put the finishing touches on your “on last trip to the store” list or maybe you’ve been checking the listings for the times of the parades and the football games. We all have a habit of making lists. Let me add one more list to your list of things to do.
A Gratitude List.
Maybe even make a few to share with the people you are having Thanksgiving with. Since today is the 18th try to come up with 18 items and then add one more each day until the end of the month.
At month’s end take that list and put it in your purse, wallet, Bible, locker, glove compartment – keep it handy and then on those days when you feel overrun by life take it out and read it – remind yourself of the good things God has done for you.
An old hymn came to mind today as I sat here thinking of my thanksgiving list. See if you remember it:
“When morning gilds the skies,
My heart awaking cries:
May Jesus Christ be praised!
Alike at work and prayer,
To Jesus I repair;
May Jesus Christ be praised!
Does sadness fill my mind?
A solace here I find,
May Jesus Christ be praised!
Or fades my earthly bliss?
My comfort still is this,
May Jesus Christ be praised!” anonymous author 1744
Amazing – this author lived over 200 years ago but the things he writes about could be what we face today and the one thing remains the same – in times of trouble and unrest we still need to Praise the name of Jesus!
We serve a wonderful Savior. Look at Jesus’ final prayer to the Father in John 17.
“After Jesus said these things, he looked toward heaven and prayed, ‘Father, the time has come. Give glory to your Son so that the Son can give glory to you. 2 You gave the Son power over all people so that he could give eternal life to all those you have given to him. 3 And this is eternal life: that people can know you, the only true God, and that they can know Jesus Christ, the one you sent. 4 I finished the work you gave me to do. I brought you glory on earth. 5 And now, Father, give me glory with you. Give me the glory I had with you before the world was made…I am not praying for the people in the world. But I am praying for these people you gave me, because they are yours. 10 All I have is yours, and all you have is mine. And my glory is seen in them.'” John 17:1-10 ERV
Jesus prayed for us. He was about to go to the cross and His prayer was for us. He came to give us eternal life and that meant that we can know (become intimately acquainted with) the Father and we can know Jesus. He prayed for us who know Him because He loves us. He loves us enough to die for us.
Now say with the writer of the hymn May Jesus Christ be praised!!
I know what the first thing on my gratitude list is – it’s eternal life. How about you?