Thank God

For every creature of God is good, and nothing to be refused, if it be received with thanksgiving: For it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer. (1 Timothy 4:4-5)
 
Take a moment and think about some of the blessings God has given you and then, hold out your hands.
 
Imagine God handing those gifts to you.
 
As you picture this, thank Him for each blessing.
 
When I read this devotion I was encouraged to take a moment and imagine God. How often are we so busy we fail to stop and just imagine Him? I recently read something and it said, Does anyone else just wish that Jesus would walk into your kitchen, sit down next to you with a cup of coffee (or water), look at you and say “ok, so here is what we are going to do.” It caused me to pause and reflect on just how real He truly is, every single day, He’s present, ready and waiting for you to invite Him to sit down next to you. Start by inviting Him into your moment and thanking Him for each and every blessing in your life.
 
Have a beautiful and uplifting day in The Lord!


His Most Precious Gift

His lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord. (Matthew 25:23) 
 
My husband bought me a watch for my birthday. When I first received it, I cherished it and admired its beauty, not thinking too much its function. As time passed; however, I noticed that I was becoming careless with it. When talking on the phone, I would take it off, not noticing where I placed it. I would take it off by the sink and leave it there. One morning, I could not find the watch. I began to panic. Where did I leave it? It was amazing just how sentimental and valuable that watch became again. 
 
As Christians, we sometimes treat our salvation the same way I treat my watch. At first, we cherish our salvation, knowing that it is a gift too precious to ever earn.  We thank God for the privilege of knowing Him and we praise Him for His Spirit dwelling inside us. Then as time passes, we take our Christianity for granted, mostly because we get used to being a Christian. 
 
But what if we could lose our salvation? How are we treating this most precious gift? Are we careless or slothful? Do you share it with others? Are we thanking the Lord for it still… every day? Our salvation is the most precious of all gifts. How are we treating it? These are sobering thoughts. Personally, I want to be found faithful with the gifts and talents He has given me. These gifts are too valuable to be taken for granted. When all is said and done, I want to hear, “Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your Lord!” 
 
Today, ask the Lord to impress upon you where your heart is. Do you really value all He has done for you and appreciate all that you have? Ask Him to convict you of any careless behavior that is not pleasing to Him. At any time, you can ask the Lord to forgive your careless behavior regarding the privilege of knowing Him. Then, ask the Lord to return the joy of your salvation to lead others to Him. Jesus has given Himself to you as a gift; nothing is of greater value than that. 
 
I pray this devotion encourages you to stop and ask yourself that very question, Do you really value all He has done for you and appreciate all that you have? Take advantage of today because tomorrow is not promised. 
 
Have a beautiful day in The Lord! 
 
Today’s Reading is Ephesians 3:20-21