Lent Day 23: An Incredible Benefits Package

Gratitude. 

What a fine and important word for us to ponder today!

On this twenty-third lenten morning, before my feet hit the ground the Spirit seized my heart and doused it with the gracious conviction to rend twenty-three items from my ingratitude vault.


Lord Jesus, may Your Spirit eject from me:

1. The ire of impatience
2. The drift of murmuring 
3. The aptness of grumbling
4. The tendency to complain
5. The bent toward selfishness
6. The liability of insidious pride
7. The insolence of a sense of lack
8. The nonchalance of prayerlessness
9. The sweetness of self-righteousness
10. The habitual leaning toward impurity
11. The unwillingness to live a life of worship
12. The practice of spiritual adultery or idolatry
13. The blindness of negating the message of Christ 
14. The susceptibility to engage in slanderous speech
15. The readiness of rebellion to turn up to a fevered pitch
16. The disposition to live a life that denies the deity of Christ 
17. The propensity to base claims on my wants and preferences
18. The habit of harboring animosity, bitterness, and unforgiveness
19. The proclivity to walk in a manner that usurps the Lord's authority
20. The heart orientation to engage in spiritual laziness and lovelessness
21. The refusal to seek first and foremost God's Kingdom and righteousness
22. The inclination to live with no awareness of the expediency of Christ's return
23. The proneness to wander from the path and leave the God deserving of my love

Each item on the above list defies the opening of the twenty-third psalm, 

"The Lord is my Shepherd,

I shall not want."

Psalm 23:1

He is my Shepherd.

I need only be grateful.

I thank You, Father.

I thank You, Holy Spirit.

I thank You, Jesus.

I thank You, triune God.

As Lent continues and Easter fast approaches, might we take moment after moment to reflect upon gratefulness? Might there be reason upon reason for thankfulness to reside in our hearts this season? Might we be drawn to learn daily to mine the Word of God excavating untold benefits we have received from God and others in our lives?

Living in a fast-paced culture loaded with deadlines and demands, it does not take long for ingratitude to reign in our hearts. Before getting out of bed, we can be irritated with the too-short night, the alarm clock that dares to interrupt our reverie, or the insensitive text message received from a friend turned foe. By the middle of the day, it becomes harder to spot God’s goodness than the myriad problems unearthing negativity, depression, bitterness, and resentment from deep within us. From there, it is merely a step before we join Alexander in Judith Viorst’s Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day—imprisoned by our self-entitled ingratitude.

Our precious, gracious, and compassionate Lord, desiring to free us from the shackles of such a fierce enemy, “has caused His wonders to be remembered” (Ps. 111:4) in order that we might give thanks to Him and worship Him.  In fact, “He provides food for those who fear Him; He remembers His covenant forever . . . He provided redemption for His people; He ordained His covenant forever—holy and awesome is His name” (Ps. 111:5, 9).  To such a God “belongs eternal praise” (Ps. 111:10b).

Might we turn to Him at this hour?

Lord, 

we implore You, 

show us how astounding our benefits package is in Christ. 

In You, dear Savior, 

we have everything we need for life and godliness. 

Guide our minds and hearts 

to recognize the specific blessings granted to us from You and others, 

especially when it is tempting to dwell upon what we seem to lack. 

Help us, O generous Lord,

 to see that You have provided 

love, mercy, salvation, redemption, and life for us. 

Remind us that we are fearfully and wonderfully created in Christ Jesus 

to do good works prepared in advance for us to do (Eph. 2:10). 

Thank You for preparing a place for us 

in Your mansions of glory. 

Thank You for health, food, clothing, 

shelter, family, relationships, income, talents, weather, transportation etc. 

Thank You for caring brothers and sisters 

who pray for us and encourage us daily. 

Thank You also for those we take for granted—

grocery stockers, cashiers at the store, bank tellers, 

custodians, policemen, 

construction workers, government officials, etc. 

Help us to renew this commitment daily, 

gratefully worshipping You 

and praying in all situations 

for the sake of Your Kingdom. 

In Jesus’ name, we pray. 

Amen!