In short, the list is just too long.
There are so many things we are thankful for! God has blessed us so richly, we couldn’t count everything we ought to give thanks for if we tried. But one thing we know for sure: without Him – without an understanding of who He is and an ability to connect with Him each and everyday – we would be no one, have nothing, and be headed nowhere.
Second Corinthians 9:15 says, “Thank God for his Son—his Gift too wonderful for words.” (TLB) That is exactly what I’m most thankful for.
God’s greatest gift to us was Himself. When He came to this earth wrapped in flesh as a man, He took on the human experience and lived just like we do, facing the same situations and emotions we deal with regularly. When He died, He died for us. He gave his life as a ransom for ours, paying the price for our sins so that we could have a chance at eternal life with Him, our Creator and the lover of our souls. But He didn’t stop there. He offers us an opportunity to live with His Spirit inside of us each and everyday so that we can be divinely influenced and empowered by Him to live a life that is redeemed from sin and reflective of who He is and who He has called us to be.
When I was 6 years old, I received the gift of the Holy Ghost with the evidence of speaking in tongues. It’s not a gift that’s only offered to some, but it’s for everyone. When we renounce a lifestyle marred by the sin of this fallen world and choose to bury the person we used to be before receiving Christ in the waters of baptism, we are free to receive the gift of God’s Spirit to dwell in our hearts and walk with us through every experience of every day.
Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. – Acts 2:38, KJV
This, the greatest gift of all, is one that is a promise. It’s guaranteed to all who take the steps Peter described in Acts 2:38 to accept it. It is that gift that has made all the difference in my life.
I can’t say I fully grasped or valued the magnitude of this gift as a child; but over the years I’ve grown in my relationship with God and can honestly say it is the one thing I could never, would never live without. It the lens through which I view everything in life – it has empowered me to come to know more and more the loving God I serve and strive to model my life after.
So today, I’m thankful that He chose me. I’m thankful that even when I didn’t fully understand, and even when I chose to go my own way and do my own thing, He never gave up on me. His love is unfailing and His grace immeasurably precious. I’m so glad to know Him for myself! I’m thankful for the opportunity to approach Him in prayer and to learn who He is through His Word. He gave His life for me – and you! – so that we could live a life of joy and abundance and beauty and purpose, free of sin and all the weighty negativity that comes with it. That’s how much He loves us.
If you don’t know Him like you’d like to, you have a chance to change that. Dive into His word – it’s the essence of who He is and it paints the most beautiful picture of His love for us. Call out to Him in prayer. Even if you haven’t attempted to pray in years, He’ll hear you because He loves you. He always has, and He always will. He’s just waiting on you to open your heart to Him. When you take the first step, He’ll be sure to meet you. He promised! (See James 4:8) Don’t let another day go by that you live your life without Him; there’s so much you’re missing out on! Peace, joy, confidence in His perfect plan and provision… the list goes on infinitely.
The transformative power of God’s Spirit reigning in your life is the most liberating, invigorating experience. Don’t go on without it – or without sharing it with someone else! It’s the greatest gift we can ever give thanks for.