August 26: THE POWER OF GRATITUDE

… saying: “We give you thanks, O Lord God Almighty, The One who is and who was and who is to come, Because you have taken Your great power and reigned. Revelation 11:17

Our short life in this dark, fallen world is illumined by the endearing, enduring glory of God’s love. Regardless of where one is in the stream of time, it is always appropriate to express gratitude to Him. It is a documented fact that inherent in a willing attitude of thankfulness is the power to diminish depression, feelings of helplessness, and anxiety that make their unwelcome way into our thinking. There is no end of things for which to express thanks to our gracious Creator and Redeemer! The purposeful decision of God’s man or woman to simply be thankful is the “action” that will ruthlessly ‘kick out’ moodiness. Even if you are a new believer, go ahead and learn now that current circumstances need not be the controlling factor of your outlook.

Let us assume a new perspective for a moment by “zooming out” to the perspective of the twenty-four elders. Each of them is, of course, thankful for their own salvation. But, as heavenly representatives of all of the redeemed, they now view the events of earth just as the unfallen angels and beings from unfallen worlds see them. Their praises are poured out in view of the timeless, self-existent nature of the Lord God Almighty. He has always been, and always will be. Jesus said to them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I AM.” (John 8:58)

And He is Immanuel, God with us (Matthew 1:23) on the razor-thin edge of time between the past and the future that we call the present. Certainly it is with horror that heaven views the devil’s pretended authority upon the earth as it is manifested in the outpourings of sin upon sin. Yet, even in this very moment, there is evidence that the King of kings has taken [His] great power and reigned in the hearts of His followers living on the earth.

In the vast realms of space in God’s beautiful universe, the earth must seem like a dirty tennis ball from afar. But the activities of the King of kings within the hearts of His redeemed people on this insignificant, “dirty tennis ball” of a planet are of fantastic interest to others. A time is soon coming when this very planet will become the seat of God’s glorious government for all of creation. When that happens, sin will reach its utter end (Nahum 1:9) never to rise again. THANKS BE TO GOD!

I will extol You, my God, O King; And I will bless Your name forever and ever. Every day I will bless You, And I will praise Your name forever and ever. Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised; And His greatness is unsearchable. Psalm 145:1-3