I always thank God.

Today’s Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 1:2, NIV- “We always thank God for all of you and continually mention you in our prayers.”

The Word of God makes me smile. You make me smile. When I think of God, when I think of you who welcome the seeds of God, I am thankful. God humbles us with His love and might. God’s Word is filled with love and instructions for life.

I am often reminded of 2 Timothy 3:16-17- “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.” (NIV). I am, even more often, shocked and blessed by God’s bountiful love and provision for us.

I still cannot get my head around what God is doing with this affirmation journey. It has been over fifteen years since God spoke to me with the words “Tom, every affirmation you will ever need is found in my word.” As I continue to seek God’s affirmations, He proves over and over that I will never capture them all.

Every day, God’s Word proves to be filled with instruction, correction, love, and thanksgivings. Some mornings I am reminded and overwhelmed with awe of God and His Word. I first wrote a blog on 1 Thessalonians 1:2 on May 13, 2011. On that day I affirmed that “I know that God loves me.” I then listed 34 affirmations that God had just blessed me with on that morning in 1 Thessalonians alone.

God’s Word continues to make my heart sing of His overwhelming love for us. I have grown to thank God even more. I have also grown to thank God for all of you who have encouraged my journey and for all of those who will receive God’s seeds from His word forever.

Although I have been accused of just changing my drug of choice from alcohol to God, I would much rather be continually drawn to God in prayer and thanksgiving. I do not know who first said you cannot outgive God, but I have come to believe it. Somewhere along this affirmation journey I naively wondered if I would run out of material.

God continues to prove that the Word of God never runs out of His love, instruction, and wonders. As I read the words “We always thank God” just this morning, I felt the affirmation of “I always thank God” as my affirmation for the day. Searching over the more than 27,000 affirmations I have captured to date and only three times had these four words been captured and I had never written a post entitled, I always thank God.

How can only four words fill my heart so? I have no idea. I cannot fathom the power and scope of God, but my heart is fully and continually open to receive His thanksgivings and His prayer requests from me. I often say I have all these affirmations, but I do not know what to do with them. My only plan is to be faithful and pray that God feeds His sheep as part of His daily bread.

I cannot encourage you or anyone more to always thank God and to read His Word. He rewards us with a heart full of thanksgivings and love. Some see God as only one of rebuke. It is sad that the thief of this world is so good at stealing, killing, and destroying our thanksgivings. But the Good News is that Jesus came to overcome the world and God gave us His Word that we can choose to turn to continually.

As 1 Thessalonians 1:3 states, our endurance is inspired by our hope in our Lord Jesus Christ. God never runs out of hope, and I am thankful for that. My challenge to you and all others is to endure this life with God. You will continually find more hope, love, and thanksgivings than you can ever imagine. I can say these things as 1 Thessalonians 1:4 states, I know, brothers and sisters loved by God, that he has chosen you.

You have been chosen by God to share His thanksgivings, Will you?

Today’s Prayer: Heavenly Father, I am thanking You for blessing and choosing us. Use us LORD to share Your thanksgivings and prayers for all others. Thank You LORD for the hope of Jesus Christ and the filling of Your Holy Spirit. Your Spirit of love and thanksgiving are beautiful. Grant us the endurance and hope of Jesus Christ. Use us LORD for Your glory and for Your purposes of feeding Your sheep and making disciples of all nations. In the boundless hope of Jesus Christ, I do pray. Amen.