The Bright Eyes of Thankfulness

Colossians 3:15 

And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful.

So many lies.  So many ways to change how we see.  For most of my life I have given myself entirely over to the lie that I have been jilted by God.  He has had in for me.  He lies in wait for my demise.  He yearns for my destruction at worst, at best, He longs for me to cower in fear as He strips my life of all the things that would make me happy, giving some sort of path of "joy", which is really just semantic.  His "joy", is just that, His.  I am but to be crushed.  The farther I am decimated by the weight of Him the more sanctified, right I become.

Sad to say it, but, as I have grown and listened to others, this seems to be a common thought, a common feeling.  How wild is it that the enemy can twist as he does, not the bad things, but the best.  He takes friends, pleasure, sex, romance, family, our health, provision, beauty, and even God Himself, and he twists them into something bad in our minds and hearts.  As we are already programmed to believe these things, it would seem the enemy were to have the upper hand.

This is where the truth, where the gospel, come shining through.  What is impossible to men, like being able to change our hearts, is possible in Christ, in His redemption, in the irresistible work of the Holy Spirit.  Through the lens of the gospel we are able to examine those lies and ask ourselves the tough questions we cowered from, our heads in the sand.

"Who exactly do we think we are?
"Why do we think we are good?  Because we haven't killed someone?  What is the standard?"
"Without God, is not our righteousness, our goodness just an illusion?  Is it not then an emotional response to an illogical, absurd craving we have?"
"Why do we feel that we can do better?  Look at the record.  How well have you done at making yourself happy?  At bringing yourself joy?  Purpose?  Who has hurt you more than you have?"

Thankfulness overcomes many ills.  Withe gospel in our hearts in mind, thankfulness is possible.  With thankfulness in our hearts, we will se the world differently.  Where we once saw God failing us by allowing our health to deteriorate, we will now see that the very fact that we ever got to breathe was a gift, that we have no right to begrudge what needn't have been given.  Where we once saw that God had taken a love one away from us, either through death, or the changing tides of life, we will now be thankful that we ever knew their name, that to have even seen their face was a gift in the utmost.  We no longer will cling to what was never really ours, and be thankful for everything that now is despite the fact that the truth about what we deserve would see us holding eternal torment and separation from God.  Thankfulness, will take that anger that has been burning in chest toward God, and with it, light a fire of another kind, one of joy, delight, and intimacy.

May it be so in our hearts.  May we ever be thankful to ever have seen the light of day, to have ever been given the gift of having our names cross each others lips.  May we always know in our hearts, and not just in heads, that we have no right to you, Father, that we would be broken down by everlasting joy that leads to submission, and indeed the glorification of You.  You are why we live.  May nothing deviate us from the path.  May we take part in your glory.  Withhold no blessing from us, that we would know all good things we are capable of knowing in this life.  Do not withhold your hand from us, Lord.  Bless us with a heavy hand, that both comforts and corrects.  Thank you for your son, Jesus, and for the sacrifice of His life and death and resurrection.  May it be so.  Amen.