Thankful for Good Gifts
Musings from the Garden
By Peggy Wyar
In reading a devotional by Susie Larson entitled Waking up to the Goodness of God, I was encouraged as she wrote about seeing every blessing as a specific gift from the Heavenly Father. She said this on page 7: “It’s one thing to count your blessings. It’s far more powerful to attach each gift to a God who fiercely loves you. That takes some time, but it’ll change how you think and feel.” If you are like me, you will recognize the benefit of connecting with God in this way.
Imagine with me every evening looking back at your day so filled with blessings - running water, electricity, clothing to wear, beautiful sunsets and sunrises, leaves turning Fall colors, heat, cars that run (usually), good friends, food for nourishment, work for your provision, loving families, eyes that see, ears that hear, belly laughs, not always funny puns, kindnesses from strangers, new mercies, sleep and rest, grace in abundance, Holy Spirit’s presence - each one a specific gift from God to you. Now imagine that each blessing had a gift card attached that read, “To My child, with love from Abba.”
Here’s a few of the many “gift cards” that have been written for you in God’s Word (NIV).
James 1:17 NIV “Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.”
Ephesians 2:8 “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—“
1 Corinthians 1:4-9 “I always thank my God for you because of his grace given you in Christ Jesus. For in him you have been enriched in every way—with all kinds of speech and with all knowledge— God thus confirming our testimony about Christ among you. Therefore you do not lack any spiritual gift as you eagerly wait for our Lord Jesus Christ to be revealed. He will also keep you firm to the end, so that you will be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is faithful, who has called you into fellowship with his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.”
2 Thessalonians 3:3 “But the Lord is faithful, and he will strengthen you and protect you from the evil one.”
1 John 1:9 “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.”
John 4:10 “Jesus answered her, “If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked him and he would have given you living water.”
Acts 2:38 “Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.”
Deuteronomy 8:18 “But remember the Lord your God, for it is he who gives you the ability to produce wealth, and so confirms his covenant, which he swore to your ancestors, as it is today.”
Psalm 103:2-5 “Praise the Lord, my soul,
and forget not all his benefits-
who forgives all your sins
and heals all your diseases,
who redeems your life from the pit
and crowns you with love and compassion,
who satisfies your desires with good things
so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.
Having a heart of thanksgiving blesses our Lord and changes us. I was instructed by the Lord in one season of prayer to take everything I was grateful for and use it as a prompt to pray for others. For example:
Thank you, Lord, for my home.
I pray for the homeless, that You minister to them. Be their provision and dwelling place.
Thank you, God, for the freedom I have in You.
I pray for those enslaved by others or by their own addictions. Be their Deliverer.
Heartfelt gratitude can remind us to turn to the Lord in intercession as we give thanks to Him.
We are so richly blessed. Let’s not ever take God’s good gifts for granted. They are given to us because we are so very loved.