[Give Thanks] Thank You, God!

Scriptures: Psalms 8:4-6, 1 John 3:1, 1 Peter 1:18-19

Thank God for Value Restated 

One reason that we can give thanks to God today is our value restated through Christ. Not simply reinstated, but restated—there’s a difference. If our value is reinstated, that implies that there was a time when we had no value and Christ came so that we could become valuable again. That’s not the case. Our value was not reinstated but restated. So, there was never a time when we were not valuable to God. He has always treasured us. Christ came because we are valuable. He came and restated the eternal fact of our worth. 

The way you see and think about yourself is totally revolutionized when you grasp this concept. When you accept your true value, you no longer live with a sense of inferiority. You no longer allow temporal standards measure your value. Because you understand the redemption truth of value restored, you no longer need to allow secular society to determine your worth. 

Material possessions do not establish your value. The opinions of others do not dictate your importance. Achievements don’t add anything to your true significance. Titles or social position do not define it. God Himself establishes your eternal worth. 

This biblical truth not only changes how we see ourselves; it can also influence how we face each day and every circumstance. If we know we are valued, we can value others. Our confidence that we are valued enables us to live with dignity and purpose. We can give thanks today and every day for Christ’s redeeming work that freed us from sin and restated our value. 

Thought of the Day: It can be easy to look down on myself and forget what I’m worth to God. Today, I will give thanks for the priceless sacrifice Christ made for me and know that I am eternally valued by my Heavenly Father.

Scriptures: Romans 15:13, Romans 8:11, 2 Thessalonians 2:16-17

Thank God for Divine Inspiration 

Through redemption in Christ, we are rescued from a life of drudgery and hopelessness and brought into a life of light and inspiration. 

People who have never experienced the redeeming power of Jesus inevitably wrestle with a heaviness of spirit that weighs them down, but redemption ignites and inspires the believer with a sense of excitement in life. The power of God’s Spirit gives Christians energy and zest for living. His truth and presence give us strength to face life’s circumstances with hope and confidence. 

Christ even gives us divine inspiration for doing mundane tasks with a sense of joy. The life of Jesus is why inspired, redeemed believers get up each morning to face a new day with purpose. Refuse to live with a sense of weariness and defeat. Meditate on what Christ has accomplished for you through His redeeming work. 

Spending time in Jesus’ presence will genuinely inspire you on the deepest level. His presence is able to ignite and energize you. Jesus wants you to be brimming with His life and energy. You don’t have to experience a boring life one more day. Be inspired! 

Thought of the Day: I will receive Christ’s inspiration today to help me live with a sense of joy and purpose.

Scriptures: 2 Peter 1:4, John 3:1-8, 2 Corinthians 5:17

Thank God for a New Nature 

Because of Christ’s great sacrifice on our behalf, we are no longer the persons we were. When we accepted Christ, God’s nature in us was reborn. 

In the beginning, when God created the heavens and the earth, He made us in His image. He intended for His human creation to have His nature. The enemy, referred to in Genesis 3 as the serpent, came into the Garden of Eden and cunningly caused the first humans, Adam and Eve, to turn away from God. The moment they disobeyed God’s command, the beautiful relationship between God and His human creation was broken. When that relationship was fractured, Adam and Eve no longer possessed the nature of God. They became slaves of Satan and became partakers of his character. 

When Christ came, as God’s offering for our sin, He did all that was necessary to restore humanity. God’s original purpose was for us to be the expression of His image, life, and nature in this physical world. Christ’s sacrifice transforms the believer. Time and time again, Jesus takes a critical, vindictive, jealous, angry, insecure, or vengeful nature and replaces it with a nature of love. This is part of the miracle that takes place when someone is born again. 

We have been given exceedingly great and precious promises regarding all that Christ accomplished through His redemptive actions on our behalf. We are now partakers of God’s divine nature. We are delivered from our old sinful nature. We accept God’s new life by faith in the redeeming work of Jesus Christ. We give thanks to our Redeemer because our nature is reborn. 

Thought of the Day: Just like 2 Corinthians 5:17 tells me, I am a new creation in Christ. So, today, I give thanks for the new life I have received through God’s generous forgiveness and love. He has made me new, and He is continuing to transform me into the likeness of His Son.

Scriptures: Romans 1:17, Romans 1:16, 1 John 5:12

Thank God for the Gospel 

As we think of reasons to give thanks to God today, let us remember the gospel. The gospel includes four fundamental truths: 

1. God created humankind—male and female—in His own image;
2. Through deception, the enemy of God became the ruler over God’s beautiful human creation, but God promised that a Redeemer would come;
3. God came in Christ Jesus to redeem and restore humankind to God’s original purpose; and
4. Everyone who accepts Christ’s death on the cross and His victorious resurrection as being for them personally is restored to relationship with God. 

As believers of this gospel, we must allow Jesus to become the center of every occasion, the principal character in our lives, our truth and reality, and the divine presence that we depend upon. 

In our lives day-to-day, we can be confident that we are not alone. We have a connection to God. We have been reclaimed, and now we have a purpose, a future, and a hope. 

We can overcome any problem that arises and give thanks because the gospel of Christ has been revealed to us, in us, and through us. 

Thought of the Day: Today, I will give thanks for the good news of the gospel. As Christ’s saving power continues to change my life, I will testify about his life and loving grace.