Thankfulness is not always easy.
In fact it can be very hard, particularly when the circumstances of life appear aligned against you.
Jehosophat, an ancient king of Israel, faced life and death circumstances. In his time and place, the nation he ruled was in mortal peril, threatened with national extinction. A vast army of opponents had gathered on the edge of Israel, threatening invasion. How could he and his endangered nation find thankfulness? On their lips and in their hearts was Ps.136:1, “give thanks to the Lord, for his steadfast love endures forever.”
At that point, as they sang and praised God, they turned their fear to thankfulness. Thanking God is a great antidote for diminishing those things which afflict us. This same prescription applies today. “Give thanks to the Lord, for his steadfast love endures forever!” Psalm 136:1. When King Jehosophat saw God deliver his nation from their enemies, he and his people went to the house of the Lord with joy and rejoicing. Finding thankfulness in our daily lives invites intimacy with God. It gives us momentum to overcome the challenges we face daily.
Many of our daily homeless guests at Christ Body live desperate lives. They walk a deadly tightrope between sobriety and despair. Meaningful change can be very daunting when you live on the streets, lack education or work skills, and are afflicted with a mental health challenge or an addiction. Often it is much easier to give up. Thankfulness is a rare commodity for those in homelessness.
At Christ’s Body, we love to be God’s agents of change towards thankfulness. We love to bring a fresh awareness of God to those who are homeless. At the same time, a fresh awareness of God’s blessings and provision can melt an icy heart. We do that every week with our mobile outreaches, food and clothing, pastoral care and a personal touch, hug or pat on the back. Often this change is small but very significant. Thankfulness is often like mustard seed-small and hard to see, but a new root of thankfulness will change us and help us to know that “I am the Lord” (Ezekial 36:38).
Blessing to you this Thanksgiving season.
Pastor Jim
If you have any questions, prayer requests or other issues, call us at 303-860-1272 or email us at info@christsbody.org.
