God is Good, All the Time
How often do you tell someone how thankful you are for them? It is often much easier to be critical or cynical of people and situations happening around us in the world today. Sometimes we can even feel entitled, like we deserve certain things that we don’t have.
Even though things don’t always go the way we expect them to in life, God’s Word teaches us that there is always something to be grateful for. God has given us everything good that we have—even the very breath that we take is a gift from God.
Most importantly, Jesus gave His life for us on the cross so that we might have eternal life with Him. The gift of faith and hope in Jesus should lead us toward gratitude and thankfulness toward God.
The writer of Psalm 107 encourages us to give thanks to God always, because there is never a time when God isn’t good towards us. Even in the midst of hard times and difficult seasons of life, God is still good. In fact, Romans 8:28 tells us that God is working behind the scenes to work everything for His good.
The Psalmist also tells us that we should be grateful and give thanks to God because His love endures forever. There will never be a time in your life that God doesn’t love you.
Even when we make mistakes, the love of God still continues.
In Romans 8:38-39, Paul says that there is nothing that can separate us from God’s love. God’s love and goodness endures forever.
We should seek to be the most grateful people on the planet, because the love of God will never end. So take some time today to tell God what you’re grateful for. It may be something simple like sunshine, nature, or a specific person. Creating a daily habit of giving thanks to God is an important step in our spiritual growth.
Hope for the Poor in Spirit
Jesus began His famous Sermon on the Mount with an upside-down perspective and eight counter-cultural blessings—commonly known as the beatitudes.
“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”
Matthew 5:3 ESV
To be physically poor is to lack resources or material possessions. The word "poor" might trigger a mental image of someone who can’t pay their bills, can’t break free from the cycle of poverty, or can’t afford food, clothing, or shelter.
So what does it mean to be spiritually poor, and why does Jesus think that’s a good thing?
Those who realize their own spiritual poverty know that, without God, they are spiritually bankrupt. Those who are poor in spirit understand the desperation of their situation—that they can have nothing, do nothing, and be nothing without Him. Those who are poor in spirit recognize that it’s humility, not pride or self-reliance, that’s a ...