…That the sharing of your faith may become effective by the acknowledgment of every good thing which is in you in Christ Jesus. Philemon 1:6 NKJV

The Scriptures admonish us to take inventory of the good things we possess as a result of our salvation through Jesus. If we don’t watch ourselves, we will fall into acknowleding all the things we don’t have: our lack of luck in our looks, finances, employment, relationships, potential, health, etc. etc. etc… That is not how we are supposed to be operating. We are called to be grateful for all the good things Jesus has died to give us. All of these wonderful things can be found in the passage of Scripture that Jesus preached from, namely Isaiah 61. We’ll discuss this more in a later blog, but for today, let’s do as the above Scripture instructs us to do:  let’s acknowledge the good things Jesus has provided for us and dwell on those things and speak them until we make it to the Promised Land. Did whining and complaining get the Israelites anywhere after their Exodus from slavery? Negative. The negative only begets more negative. But the Truth begets, or empowers, the Truth to grow in our hearts until the facts, dim and sad though they might appear to be, eventully give way to the Truth. The Truth is the Word of God.

Father,

Teach me to acknowledge all the benefits that making You Lord of my life has given me. You have equipped me with everything I need for life and for godliness. I choose today to rejoice in these benefits, to share them with others, and to remind myself of Your great kindness and love towards me.

In Jesus’ Name, I’m Yours. Amen.

Bless the Lord, O my soul;
And all that is within me, bless His holy name!
Bless the Lord, O my soul,
And forget not all His benefits:
Who forgives all your iniquities,
Who heals all your diseases,
Who redeems your life from destruction,
Who crowns you with lovingkindness and tender mercies,
Who satisfies your mouth with good things,
So that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s. Psalm 103:1-5

“The Spirit of the Lord God is upon Me,
Because the Lord has anointed Me
To preach good tidings to the poor;
He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted,
To proclaim liberty to the captives,
And the opening of the prison to those who are bound;
To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord,
And the day of vengeance of our God;
To comfort all who mourn,
To console those who mourn in Zion,
To give them beauty for ashes,
The oil of joy for mourning,
The garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness;
That they may be called trees of righteousness,
The planting of the Lord, that He may be glorified.” Isaiah 61:1-3