Written by Michelle J. Goff, Founder and Executive Director of Iron Rose Sister Ministries
“Come, Lord Jesus!” is my frequent cry, longing for deliverance from the struggles of this world. The burdens of this life—on a personal, familial, congregational, and global level—are overwhelming and daunting. When my thoughts are focused on these afflictions, I lose sight of the eternal perspective. I forget that these are only “light and momentary troubles” (2Co 4:17 NIV).
So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal. (2Co 4:16-18 ESV)
I am grateful for the hope of the eternal. God is eternal—the same yesterday, today, and forever (Heb 13:8). We are invited into the eternal, which He has set in our hearts (Ecc 3:11 NIV). When we “live by faith, not by sight” (2Co 5:7), we taste the eternal and trust the One who sees what we cannot (2Ki 6:17-20; Eph 6:12).
Your word, Lord, is eternal;
it stands firm in the heavens.
Your faithfulness continues through all generations. (Ps 119:89-90a)
I am grateful that I can be set free from sin and death. This broken world is subject to the consequences of sin: death and destruction. And each of us individually is subject to the same. We are wrapped up in sin and death. They consume us as an inescapable law (Ro 8:2), but that does not have to be the end of our story.
What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body that is subject to death? Thanks be to God, who delivers me through Jesus Christ our Lord! (Ro 7:24-25a)
I am grateful for the hope of the resurrection. When we are united with Christ in His death and burial, through baptism, we are invited into the resurrection (Ro 6:1-7). I can have a new life (2Co 5:17). I can be renewed every morning (La 3:23).
For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we will certainly also be united with him in a resurrection like his. (Ro 6:5)
I am grateful for deliverance—now and forever. When I die to myself, I am delivered from the traps that the accuser throws in my path. I walk in newness of life. Satan and death have already been conquered by Christ (Ro 8:1, 37). Through Christ, I am redeemed from the lies that swirl in my mind, fueled by the father of lies (Jn 8:44). The Spirit empowers me to take captive every thought (2Co 10:5).
For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ. (2Co 10:3-5)
I am grateful to share the good news with others and share in their joy (Mt 28:18-20).
When they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord suddenly took Philip away, and the eunuch did not see him again, but went on his way rejoicing. (Ac 8:39)
I am grateful for the Word of Life and the Spirit that reminds me of Truth, especially when I am burdened by this life (Jn 1:1, 14:6).
But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid. (Jn 14:26-27)
Through Christ Jesus our Lord, there are countless things for which we can give thanks. What are you grateful for today?