Always and Forever Thankful

He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart. Psalm 91:4

One thing we have to be always and forever thankful for is the unchanging nature of God. In a word, God is “good.” Reading through the Bible, there are so many beautiful facets of His character we can take note of:

God is gracious.

God is loyal.

God is compassionate.

God shows favor to the foreigner. 

God always notices us (even when no one else does.) 

God blesses obedience.

God is kind. 

God sometimes speaks His will through other people.

God is noble.

God is faithful—even when life doesn’t feel fair.

What does this mean for us and the way we should aspire to live our lives? 

Be nondiscriminatory. 

Love people—all people.

Be a loyal family member.

Show compassion.

Demonstrate kindness and generosity.

Obey each day!

Be humble.

Listen to wisdom—godly wisdom.

Live a noble life of dignity. Ripen in Christ-like character.

Live a consistently faithful life of prayer and thanksgiving, which leads to joy.

Psalm 91:4 parallels another verse of the Bible, Ruth 2:12: “The Lord repay you for what you have done, and a full reward be given you by the Lord, the God of Israel, under whose wings you have come to take refuge.” These words were spoken by Boaz to Ruth after his observations of her humble obedience. Ruth submitted to God’s ways and His will even when culture told her to take a contrary route. She faithfully stayed by Naomi’s side, listened to her godly wisdom, worked hard, and in turn was rewarded for her diligence.

May we live faithfully diligent lives, inspired by Ruth’s heart. Let’s listen to the godly influences around us, seek out God’s will, and obey at all costs. Following Jesus does not guarantee we will not face storms in life, but it does give us assurance that Jesus will wrap his arms around us through it all.

Trusting the Lord with all of our hearts begins in our Bibles. Let’s prayerfully stay connected to God each day through reading His Word. Let’s infuse our hearts with things that are of and from Jesus. Let’s shine bright as godly examples in our homes through love and good deeds that honor and point others to the Lord.

We can rejoice in the fact that God is good. He is omniscient and never leaves or forsakes us. Even when we feel distant from God, He is close to us. Call out His name. Seek Jesus through all moments of life, even the challenging ones. God wants access to every part of our hearts, not just our “Sunday best” chamber. He wants to hear from us in the hard moments. There is grace to be found in the hard because we serve a gracious God who understands our struggles and has unlimited compassion for us.

Let’s live life reflecting the idea that we are always and forever thankful because He is always and forever faithful. Praise God from whom all blessings grow. For every bud of hope unfolding in our lives, let’s praise Jesus—the Master Gardener of every good thing.

Dear Jesus,

Thank you for your kindness. Thank you for your unfailing love. Even when my life falls apart, God, you are mighty to preserve the broken pieces and repurpose my life for your glory. You are forever faithful, even when I fail. Lord, help me live a life that grows beautiful things that pleases you. In Jesus’ holy name I pray, amen.