Gratitude Series Episode 7

Hello, my walking friend! Let’s thank Jesus for another opportunity to spend 10 minutes moving our bodies and aligning our hearts and minds with Jesus. Take a deep breath and feel the life within you and thank Jesus that he has allowed you another day to bring him glory.

Today is the 7th episode in the gratitude series. Each episode during this series we will take some time to focus on thanking Jesus for something specific and we will have two different verses to meditate on. Today we will be thanking Jesus for our lives.

Our first verse to meditate on is Psalm 139:13-16:

For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place, when I was woven together in the depths of the earth. Your eyes saw my unformed body; all the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.

Psalm 139 is one of my favorite verses and it really speaks to how involved Jesus is in our lives. If you have a chance to read the whole chapter after your walk, I would encourage you to do so!

I don’t know what your life is like right now. Maybe you are having a hard time being thankful for it. I know I have had seasons in my life when I felt that way. You know who else felt that way? David. I’m sure of it. If you read through the psalms, many of which were written by David, you will see that life wasn’t always easy for him. Many times he was crying out to the Lord for help, for a change in his life situation. He even cried out for the Lord to save his life! And yet, you will also find many psalms where David is praising the Lord and giving him thanks. In fact, he often did both in the same psalm!

Whatever season of life you are in right now, whether life is easy or challenging, we should thank Jesus. In every situation, we have the opportunity to bring him glory, and for that alone we can be thankful for our life. Remember today’s verse – he created your inmost being, he knit you together in your mother’s womb, you are fearfully and wonderfully made, nothing about you is unknown to Jesus, and he has ordained every day he gives you.

Our second verse for today is Colossians 2:6-7:

So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.

You see, Jesus has made us for a purpose and we should be overflowing with thankfulness. Take a little time to consider this and meditate on today’s verses.

Did Jesus reveal anything special to you as you meditated on these two verses?

Here are a few to consider:

We know that in this life we will experience good times and hard times. Sometimes when life is good, it is easy to forget Jesus and forget to thank him. And when times are bad, even though we are more likely to reach out for Jesus, we may not feel like thanking him. Wherever you fall on the spectrum at this time in your life, remember that Jesus can use everything in your life, even the hard stuff, for his good purposes. Don’t you want your life to bring your Lord and Savior, Jesus, glory? I know I do! And if he has given us breath today, then we have an opportunity to do that. Let’s overflow with thankfulness for the life that Jesus has given us – life here and now, and life everlasting with him in paradise.

Let’s take some time now to thank Jesus for our lives.

You are now at the halfway point of your walk. If you need to be back in 10 minutes, this would be the time to turn around and head back.

Now I am going to pray for us:

Dear Jesus,
Forgive me when I don’t pause to thank you when life is good and I am busy enjoying it. Thank you for giving me the ability to live and to love. When life has taken me into a dark valley, thank you for being with me. Thank you for being a beacon of hope. When I am hurting, thank you for allowing me to be real with you. Thank you for sharing my grief over broken bodies and broken dreams. Thank you for promising, in your time, to turn what was meant for evil to good. Thank you for each day you have given me. Convict my heart so that I will remember that each moment is an opportunity to draw closer to you and to bring you glory, yes, even in my pain, while I am living in this body. Help me live each day in you. Thank you for never leaving me nor forsaking me in this life, for walking with me always, and for preparing a place for me with you in heaven for the next life. Amen.

Here are some questions for you to consider:

Think of 3 things you are grateful to Jesus for relating to your body. Think of 3 things you are not so happy about. Can you reframe what displeases you about your body into something to be thankful for? Consider that now.

Do you remember to praise and thank Jesus when life is good or do you find you only draw near to him during life’s challenges? Take a little time to answer now.

Today’s prayer was filled with thanks to Jesus, but can you think of 5 more things relating to your life that you can thank him for?

Before we wrap up, listen again to today’s verses:

Psalm 139:13-16:

For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place, when I was woven together in the depths of the earth. Your eyes saw my unformed body; all the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.

Colossians 2:6-7:

So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.

Is there anything else you would like to talk to Jesus about? Remember, he is right there with you, walking with you, and he is eager for you to share all that is on your heart and mind with him. Take some time to talk to and thank Jesus now.

Well, you did it, my friend! Another 10 minutes of walking with Jesus. As you walked today, were you renewed in your commitment to live your life for the glory of God? I hope so! And I hope you felt yourself overflowing with thankfulness!

Thank you for taking the time to walk with me today! But more importantly, you walked with Jesus, the one who knit you together in your mother’s womb!

For more Walk with Jesus resources, including the Walk with Jesus 21 day scripture, devotional, and guided prayer journal book for walkers, go to WalkwithJesusDevotional.com. The November edition focuses on gratitude and is a part of this podcast series. You will find the URL for this book and other resources in the podcast show notes.

I hope we can walk together again tomorrow, friend. In our next episode we will be thanking Jesus for your freedom. Until then, God bless you as you walk with Jesus.