There are so many things I could speak of that I am thankful for that it’s hard to zero in on just a few, but I will try for the purpose of this writing. To tell of them all would be a book of which the volume is far too large for a blog like this.

But just to frame what I’m about to say, it’s important to remember how essential it is to have a thankful heart – a heart that is grateful for all things. This is more than just a cliché. This is a principal for living an overcoming life in the Kingdom of God. Being thankful comes against any prideful attitude that may hinder our spiritual growth. Thankfulness presupposes humility, which is in direct contrast to pride. And we all know that it was pride that got satan kicked out of heaven  (Isaiah 14:12-15)!

I’m thankful that God called me out of the darkness into the light. Every heart that hears God’s call to come out of the darkness has the opportunity to walk in the light, which is to say that you walk with Jesus, understanding His ways, and following His lead. For people like me, who have known how dark the darkness can get, walking in the Light is a profound privilege and I am so thankful that He didn’t leave me in the dark!

1 Peter 2:9 NIV But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.

I’m thankful for a praying Mom, who took me to church when I was a child and never gave up praying for me as I went through all my crazy times. Those early years are when I learned the scriptures and received a deposit of God’s spirit that never left me! The Bible says that the Word of God will not return void once it is sown and it didn’t! The Word of God worked in my life to draw me back to Him when my life was a shambles. Never give up praying for your loved ones!

Isaiah 55:11 ESV So shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it.

I’m thankful for complete and total restoration. Sometimes I just marvel at my life now that is so rich and full – it’s truly more than I could ever ask. But I serve a God that delights in restoring broken lives, and He sure did it up right with mine! I have a wonderful marriage, beautiful and delightful children,  and a fulfilling ministry that lets me tell of the goodness of my God! God is no respecter of persons, and what God did in my life, He can do in yours too! He will give you the  gift of life today – return to Jesus with all your heart and all your strength and all your soul and watch how He restores all the devil has stolen from you!

Joel 2:25 KJB And I will restore to you the years that the locust hath eaten, the cankerworm, and the caterpiller, and the palmerworm, my great army which I sent among you.

I’m thankful that we are a chosen generation, and have been given the opportunity to live in these final days of the history of mankind. Each and every one of us has a purpose that is unique to each individual. God knew you from the foundations of the earth, and your birth at this time in the history of the world was not an accident. It was on purpose! You are not here by any plan or accident of man, but by the plan of God. God gave you and me the honor of being the chosen generation that will prepare the way of the Lord’s second coming. We are going to see what no other generation has seen – the Lord’s return to restore His perfect plan for mankind – the Day of Redemption!

Romans 8:23 NIV Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption to sonship, the redemption of our bodies.