You aren’t entitled to anything.
Coming to Cambodia has made me realize how much entitlement has played a role in my life or that it’s such a common theme in American culture. I heard about how entitled we were and knew the definition,* yet never really knew how far it went. Starting at launch and through these past months the Lord has highlighted some areas to which I thought I had a right.
I thought I was entitled to have God meet with me. I thought I was entitled to His presence. I’m not. His Word, His Spirit, His Kingdom, Salvation, Life, Righteous Standing with the Father. All of it is a gift. ALL.
Dang, our Dad gives GOOD gifts.
He is full of them. Maybe that’s why scripture talks so much about being thankful. We aren’t born with any individual personalized right to Him. He gives something freely to us when we ask. Why? Why would God do that? Why would He want us to have Him? Why go through the pain of us? Why not just throw out the soiled creation and start over? He must think we are worth something. He must have something worth keeping and saw value in the process. Why would He want to be with us?
Why come down and be with US? He must love us. It’s the only thing that makes sense and yet sometimes love doesn’t make sense. I was told once that God is totally unpredictable in His ways and completely predictable in His character. His character is steadfast and never changing. How He decides to complete His purpose cannot be pinned down or recited. It can only be trusted.
He can be trusted.
Thankfulness opens our eyes to all that we have been given in Christ, and there is so much that we have been given.
Thanksgiving is like the windshield wipers for our perception. It clears our view and reconnects us with who God is and how present He is in our everyday lives.
When I feel like things are going wrong in a day or maybe I am comparing my life or relationship to someone else’s, then it’s a good time to stop and give a sacrifice of thanksgiving.
God has taught me to start with thanksgiving for salvation and then I list other blessings from there.
This new habit brings life and perspective, and it’s probably why Paul told the Thessalonians to give thanks continually, that is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.
We have already been given everything in Christ. Let’s realize it and respond with thankful hearts.
-Victoria Schafer
P.S.
I’m thankful for…
salvation
bikes
God the Father and comforter
His compassion and gentleness
a way to talk to family
kids from Ezra Learning Center
the Theurialts
my team
the Holy Spirit
God’s design for His church
His new mercy
His goodness
His guidance
His peace
new life
joy
laughter
God’s love
the random bumps in the road
the kids at Pannasastra
Ann from the hospital and Rachel
running
an open roof top
a small Khmer Church
Cayla
Samuel
David
Rebecca
my mom
my dad
Christ Chapel
The Dwelling Place
5:00 a.m. quiet and prayer
silence
dance parties
the pink coffee stand on the corner
5:30 p.m. Khmer park aerobics
The list could go on but for now I’ll stop there. There are so many things to be thankful for, I thought it would be good to share since I just talked about thankfulness, and these are listed in no particular order just to clarify.
