A Guide to Thanksgiving

Praise the LORD. Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his love endures forever. Who can proclaim the mighty acts of the LORD or fully declare his praise." Psalm 106:1-2 (NIV)
Have you ever thought to stop and thank God for life and how things go on around us? How He provided for us even before we knew we needed the things He made available? As I was freshening up a few days ago I found my heart overflowing with gratitude for the gift of cleansing; for water that God created and the scientists given by God wisdom to create cleansers for us. I began to thank God for anticipating me, for knowing my need for cleansing and refreshing on hot and humid days, on random days and for no absolute reason. Then I remembered my soul.
"The blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a heifer sprinkled on those who are ceremonially unclean sanctify them so that they are outwardly clean. How much more, then, will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself unblemished to God, cleanse our consciences from acts that lead to death, so that we may serve the living God!" Hebrews 9:13-14 (NIV)
Have you ever imagined what our souls look like when we are covered in the stickiness and grossness of vices and sin? The things within us that only God gets to see? Have you ever thought to thank God that He anticipated us even in those states and sent His Son, Jesus, to die for our sin; to sprinkle His blood on us so that we are pure and holy; able to be embraced in His love? Have you ever thought to thank God for this?
"So Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many people; and he will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him." Hebrews 9:28 (NIV)
God’s blood never loses power. He sprinkled it on us once and for all and we are forever clean – if we live in obedience to Him. (Should we be in sin, He did not move, we did. His blood did not lose the power to save, we strayed from it.)
Take a moment today and celebrate this. If you are outside of Him He is inviting you into His family too. He died for you and wants to save you. This gift is open to all man to receive – it brings us closer to Him. Receive it today and if you have it, thank Him today.
A short prayer to receive this gift
“Lord, Jesus. You are Lord over all the earth and today you are Lord over my life too. I receive this gift of salvation – the cleansing of my sin and freedom from guilt and condemnation. May you help me stay in you and live according to your ways, in your love. In the name of Jesus, Amen.”
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