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AWESOME DEVOTIONS: THANK YOU, JESUS

Tuesday, January 22, 2008

THANK YOU, JESUS

We have been so used to thinking of giving thanks for the blessings in our lives that we find it hard to think in terms of being grateful for God's gifts that are hidden in experiences that we try to avoid.

We need to give thanks to God for the opposition we meet, the resistance that has forced us to put forth our best efforts, and the disputes that have compelled us to re-examine our arguments and eliminate the flaws.

We need to praise God for the struggles that have made us grow, the defeats that have made us humble, the losses that have made us cautious, and the dangers that have kept us alert.

We need to thank God for the risks we have had to take that have shown us hidden strengths we didn't know we had.

We need to be grateful for the enemies we have made, for to have no enemies means we have not taken any issue with the wrong, defied evil, or rallied to the defense of the oppressed.

We need to be grateful for our critics who tell us the truth about ourselves.

But above all, we need to thank God that good has come out of evil, that struggles we would have preferred to avoid have turned into blessings, that because we are confident and secure in his love and goodness we have found strength and courage to face whatever comes - to run the race that is set before us.

Thank you, Lord, for all of your blessings, even those we don't see as blessings as the time. Thank you for the strength you give us to run the race you have set before use.

I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day - and not only to me, but alto to have who have long for his appearing. 2 Timothy 4:6-8


WE FALL DOWN - CHRIS TOMLIN

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