Gratitude Series Episode 16

Hello, my walking friend! If you have been walking from the beginning of this series, I wonder, are you feeling more thankful and grateful throughout your days? I hope so! And I hope you are remembering to say a prayer of thanks to Jesus each time you find yourself feeling thankful for something. If you haven’t been along for the whole series, why not go back and listen to some of other podcasts in the gratitude series? My prayer is that, if you do, you will begin to cultivate an attitude of gratitude.

Today is the 16th 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 futures.

Our first verse to meditate on is Jeremiah 29:11:

For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

Have you ever considered the fact that you actually have two futures? You have all the future days here on earth that Jesus has ordained for you. And, if you have accepted Jesus as your Lord and Savior, you have a future in heaven.

When it comes to my future days on earth, I will admit to you, my walking friend, that sometimes I worry. What about you? With everything going on in the world, I think I might have some good company. Do you ever approach the future with apprehension? The thing is, Jesus doesn’t want that for us. He wants us to approach the future with hope, to start each day with hope because our hope is in Jesus. He told us that in this world we will have trouble. Sin and evil don’t come from Jesus – they come from a broken world. But only Jesus can make good come from evil. Jesus can give us peace in every situation. He can use everything from our past, present, and future for his purposes. Jesus loves us. He is with us always… today and every day to come. So let’s thank him for that and thank him for the future he has for us.

Our second verse for today is Hebrews 12:28-29:

Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe, for our “God is a consuming fire.”

Let’s take a little time to meditate on today’s verses and consider that Jesus is with us today and everyday in the future.

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

Did you consider the powerful message in the second verse?

When we started, I said that we have two futures – one here on earth, and one waiting for us in heaven where we will spend eternity with Jesus.

Our second verse today speaks to that future. It is easy to get so consumed in our lives here that we don’t give much consideration to our future to come. But Jesus has told us that we are like sojourners, like travelers, here on earth. It is like we are in exile, waiting to be returned to our true home with Jesus. We are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken and, for that and everything in between, we can be thankful. If you start to feel hopeless about the future, remember the cross and how much Jesus loves you and all he did to give you a hope and a future with him. And then thank him.

Now let’s take some time to thank Jesus for our future.

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 preparing a place for me in heaven. Thank you for offering me a supernatural peace that surpasses understanding. Thank you for giving me hope and a future. Help me live in your will for my life. Help me trust you even when I don’t understand suffering. Jesus, consume me like a fire so that the Spirit will fill me and produce the holy fruit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Jesus, you are my future and I thank you for walking with me always. Amen.

Here are some questions for you to consider:

Is your tendency to view the future with hope and optimism or with fear and trepidation, or maybe a combination of both? Take some time to consider your answer now.

When you think of heaven, what comes to your mind? Consider your view of heaven now.

Even though the future is unknown to us, it is not unknown to Jesus. Take time now to thank him for today and for the days ahead that he has planned for you. Ask him to give you the power and perspective to live each day ordained for you in a way that brings him glory.

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

Jeremiah 29:11:

For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

Hebrews 12:28-29:

Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe, for our “God is a consuming fire.”

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. If you started your walk with some trepidation about the future, and your future in particular, I hope you are feeling a little more at peace.

Thank you for taking the time to walk with me today! But more importantly, you walked with Jesus, who holds every day he has ordained for you in the palm of his hand.

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