Gratitude Series Episode 14

Hello, my walking friend! Are you on your way? Have you started walking? I hope so! Let your body move freely and free your mind of everything but Jesus.

Today is the 14th episode in the gratitude series. In each podcast 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 treasures.

Our first verse to meditate on is James 1:17:

Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.

Has God blessed you with earthly treasures? I know you are walking now, but I want you to think about your home and the things that you have. In your mind’s eye, see everything that you own. Think about what you are using to listen to this podcast. Earthly treasure is simply material wealth… all those things you own that you were just thinking about. And you don’t have to be what society would call “wealthy” to have material wealth. Anything that adds to your creature comforts, above and beyond your most basic needs, is treasure.

Jesus doesn’t condemn us because we have earthly treasures or creature comforts. The bible has given us many examples of how God blessed his people with earthly treasures. But he does want us to keep it in the proper perspective. Jesus wants us to understand where our treasure comes from. He has said every good and perfect gift is from above, every one of them – and he wants us to thank him for it and use it for his purposes and his glory.

Our second verse for today is 2 Corinthians 9:11:

You will be enriched in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God.

As you meditate on today’s verses, take a little time to also think about all the ways Jesus has blessed and enriched your life.

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

Do you feel blessed by the belongings in your life? Or do your belongings make you feel burdened? I am not asking that to make you feel bad or ungrateful. This is an ongoing struggle for me – finding the balance where my belongings are blessings and not burdens. If you feel that your stuff is overwhelming you and sapping your energy and becoming a burden, then it might be time to give some of it away.

You see, Jesus has enriched us in every way so that we can be generous – on every occasion. I know it’s hard – at least it is hard for me. So many thoughts go through my mind – I paid good money for that. I might need it some day. Someone special gave it to me. But when I start to view any of my treasures as burdens, well then it is probably time to let them bless someone else. Imagine someone receives something you gave away – something that will be a treasure to them. Could your generosity result in thanksgiving to God? Oh, Lord Jesus, that it would! That is my prayer!

And that is why we should thank Jesus for our treasures and for the ways he has enriched us, because every good and perfect gift is from him and his gifts give us the opportunity to be generous.

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,
Thank you for all the many creature comforts you have blessed me with. It is so easy to take them all for granted. Forgive me. Thank you for your heart of generosity that wants to bless your children. Help me have a heart like yours. Thank you for blessing me so that I can be a blessing to others. When I am afraid to give from my abundance, remind me I can’t out-give you. The blessings I receive from being a cheerful giver are far more valuable than anything I give away. Thank you, Jesus, for every good and perfect gift that has come from you and thank you for walking with me always. Amen.

Here are some questions for you to consider:

When you look at all your stuff, do you feel blessed, burdened, or both? What might you be able to do to feel more blessed and less burdened? Consider your answer now.

Does generosity come easily to you or do you fear you cannot meet your own needs if you give away some of what you have?

Talk to Jesus about your fears now.

Take a little time to thank Jesus for all the earthly treasures you can think of, remembering that every good and perfect gift is from above.

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

James 1:17:

Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.

2 Corinthians 9:11:

You will be enriched in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God.

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, was your heart filled with gratitude for all the blessings Jesus has given you? I hope so!

Thank you for taking the time to walk with me today! But more importantly, you walked with Jesus, the giver of every good and perfect gift!

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 prayer. Until then, God bless you as you walk with Jesus.