I’ve been pretty honest with you in the last few days about what a tendency I have to mess up. There are plenty of ways throughout my life I have done so. A tendency I have had in the past is to allow the feelings of shame and remorse to overtake me, and sometimes spin me further out of control (there’s that devil’s foothold I talked about yesterday).

But as children of God, we don’t have to do that. He already knows what we have done and what is in our hearts. We only need to humble ourselves before Him, repent, and continue in our walk with Him. “Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of your evil behavior. But now He has reconciled you by Christ’s physical body through death to present you holy in His sight, without blemish and free from accusation—if you continue in your faith, established and firm, and do not move from the hope held out in the gospel.” (Col. 1:21-23)

As children of our merciful Creator, we have the choice to allow our mistakes to overtake us. I admit I have made that choice too many times, and it is hard to come back from those times of spiraling down. But Christ Jesus has provided a better way. “So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in Him, rooted and built up in Him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness. See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the elemental spiritual forces of this world rather than on Christ.” (Col 2:6-8) To be rooted (strengthened and grounded) in Christ, we must stay in the Word, stay in prayer, and be THANKFUL.

Our hope, our peace, our forgiveness is in the Lord. Instead of allowing the devil a foothold, I encourage you to go directly to the Lord. Repent and then feed on His Word. “Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts. And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.” (Col. 3:15-17)

We are encouraged often in Scripture to give thanks and be thankful. Being thankful is humbling. Gratitude is learning to recognize and express appreciation for the benefits we have received from God and others. I was encouraged a few days ago in my Bible study to write out a prayer asking the Lord to transform me to a thankful person. I encourage you to do the same. Here is what I have been praying: “Lord, help me to see people and circumstances through your eyes. Help me to recognize the blessings and grace I receive from you and others, so that I will transform into a thankful person. And in my grateful spirit, may your light shine through me so that those in the darkness desire to come into the light. In Jesus’ name, amen!”