A Prayer of Gratitude for the Reward of Jesus
By Kristine Brown
Bible Studying
“For God so beloved the world that he gave his one and solely Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish however have everlasting life.” – John 3:16 NIV
Pay attention or Learn Beneath:
I’ve by no means been a lot of a vacation decorator. Working full time and taking good care of a household stored me so busy via the years that placing up Thanksgiving and Christmas decorations moved down on my priorities listing. Nonetheless, I all the time discovered time to place the lighted synthetic tree within the nook. One thing concerning the heat glow within the evenings or the best way the handmade angel seemed down from her place atop the tree introduced a sense of peace to our in any other case hectic lives.
One 12 months, circumstances had been so chaotic main as much as the vacations that I didn’t wish to put the tree away. Thanksgiving got here and went, then Christmas. However I couldn’t deliver myself to take the tree down. As an alternative, I wakened early every morning, turned on the lighted tree, grabbed a cup of espresso with my Bible, and frolicked desirous about Jesus. Typically, our hearts want a reminder to decelerate and relaxation within the presence of the best present ever given—the present of Jesus. I suppose that’s what prompted me to maintain the tree in place that 12 months. My longing coronary heart wanted one thing to chop via the busyness and make house for the peace, hope, and pleasure solely Jesus brings. Certain, the world affords us its personal model of these items, however I’ve discovered lasting reduction once I belief in what Jesus affords.
John 3:16 tells us about this nice present, “For God so beloved the world that he gave his one and solely Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish however have everlasting life.”
Prior to now, I’ve seemed ahead to November, marking that month on my calendar as a time to offer thanks. Then, after the turkey leftovers are thrown out and the calendar web page turns to December, my focus shifts to the following busy vacation. I transfer from one custom to the following, by no means pausing lengthy sufficient to embrace gratitude for the perfect present I’ve ever acquired. God gave us the last word present the day he let Jesus come to earth to exist amongst us. Our loving Father stored silent when Jesus suffered a horrific loss of life on the cross as a result of he knew it was the one means. Jesus was the one Manner.
The season I made a decision to depart the tree standing within the nook of my lounge, a outstanding change occurred in my coronary heart. I discovered renewed gratitude for the present of Jesus. January quickly ended, then February, and on and on till November arrived once more. I eliminated our household’s ornaments and changed them (briefly) with a garland of yellow, orange, and brown, with letters that spelled out the phrases, “Give thanks.” That was the 12 months I rediscovered thankfulness for essentially the most superb present ever. No matter our most well-liked traditions, we will all discover peace, hope, and pleasure to hold us via Thanksgiving, Christmas and even the following 12 months. Jesus is the present that lasts a lifetime.
Let’s Pray:
Expensive God,
Thanks for the present of your son, Jesus. Due to him, we’ve got the hope of everlasting life. We even have peace and pleasure that surpasses something this world may give. I pray this 12 months, as we have a good time the season that we are going to keep in mind this unimaginable present. Typically life will get so busy that we let the vacations move by with out resting in Jesus’ presence. However this season affords the right alternative to reset our hearts. We’re grateful for Jesus, and we wish to prioritize time with him. Assist us discover methods to recenter our lives and households across the love of Jesus. Assist us see the fantastic thing about Jesus as the best present of all, and encourage our hearts to hold gratitude for this present into the following 12 months and past.
In Jesus’ identify, we pray, Amen.
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