Thankful

A God of second chances....

That's what I'm thankful for. He knew I couldn't meet the standard in the beginning. He knows I can't meet it now. So, He gives me grace every day. He gives me growth even when it's hard for me to see it. He picks me up when I fall down. And I think He smiles when I choose to follow Him.

It's not about where I'm at in comparison to others. It's about His complete and everlasting love that He chooses to shower over me. He is the one who gives me strength to survive each day. He is the one who gives me even an ounce of hope to keep going. I don't have to strive. I can't do it on my own anyway.

He tells me that in Him my burden can be light. (Matt.11:29) He tells me to trust in Him. (Proverbs 3:5) He sent His Son to die for me because He loves me. (John 3:16) It's not dependent on my actions. And if it was, He would have stopped loving me and taking care of me a long time ago, because every day I sin and make mistakes. His love is something that I don't think I'll ever understand.

We love others when they love us and treat us with kindness. But when friendships get shaky and people start acting unlovable, our flesh tells us to ignore and reject. But the Lord calls us to love our enemies and pray for those who persecute us. He calls us to put others' interests above our own. To serve with a joyful, willing attitude.

Our sinful hearts are going to kick and scream. But Jesus led by example. He loves us when we've hated Him. He serves us when we try to use Him to get what we want. He lay down His life for mankind when we rejected Him. That is selfless, sacrificial love, that no one - past, present, or future - will ever deserve. It's grace and it's mercy. He gives us abundantly more than we could ask or think or imagine.

I want to understand why He loves me. But in reality there is no reason to love me. I can't boast about any accomplishment or good thing I've done without acknowledging His hand in it. I might try to, but that would be stealing glory and honor that was never meant to be mine.

I'm thankful that God gives me second chances in my relationship with Him and that He is always waiting for me to seek Him. I'm thankful He gives me a second chance every new morning I wake up. I'm thankful He gives me second chances with my family and friends and learning to love others like He does. I'm thankful for the second chance of new life in Jesus!

I'm not sure yet if I'm posting next week because of Thanksgiving, so consider this my Thanksgiving post. :) It's crazy that another year has passed. It's been another year that God has proven His faithfulness to me and to you too. He loves y'all!

Thanks for reading today's post! I'd love to hear what you're thankful for/what God is doing in your life!