As the old song says, we have a great friend in Jesus. Following in his way, we know deep joy, new challenges, and intimate companionship.
And there is more. In these next moments of quiet contemplation, open your heart and your imagination to learn about all you receive as God's beloved child.
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, just as he chose us in Christ before the foundation of the world to be holy and blameless before him in love.
Ephesians 1:3-4
In elementary school, we sang a song at church about counting our blessings. I was thankful for my brothers and sister. I loved my dog. I was grateful for food and a place to live. All of those were truly blessings in my life. I thought about God, but rarely about spiritual blessings. Even when I was older and started a gratitude journal, most of the day’s blessings were physical. I was grateful for the people in my life, my cat, my car, and on and on. Physical blessings are blessings from God, but they are not everything.
There is more to life than the physical world I can see and hear and touch. God has chosen me and given me all spiritual blessings. God loves me and wants what is best for me. Being holy and blameless allows me to stand in Christ in love and receive those blessings. God chose me to be part of Christ’s inheritance before the world was even created. I will rejoice and bless God for God’s favor towards me!
Deborah Hurd
Holy God, you knew me before the world began. Help me be the holy and blameless person you want me to be. Strengthen me when I stumble. Let your love show through me in all that I do. Amen.
May you be made strong with all the strength that comes from his glorious power, and may you be prepared to endure everything with patience, while joyfully giving thanks to the Father, who has enabled you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the light.
Colossians 1:11-12