Every day we get up and start our activities. Every day we have the opportunity to “not” take for granted the things we can see and do,
when you woke up this morning, you were given another gift. The gift of a new day. What will you do with it?

I have spent my day cleaning, not something too many enjoy, but I find pleasure in it. I like to see the task completed. I like the look and smell of a clean home. As I clean I am thankful, yes, very thankful. First, I am healthy and able. I can see, I can walk, I can use my hands; plus I have something to clean, a home. All of these are gifts from the Lord.

When I opened my eyes this morning I knew I had been given the gift of a new day, filled with new mercies. (Lamentations 3:22-23)
22 “The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; 23 they are new every morning; great is thy faithfulness.” I don’t know about you, but I need new mercy each day.

I choose each day to live in thankfulness and joy. I do not want the momentary trials and tribulations to steal my joy and my thankfulness. I read the word right after breakfast, I am reminded each day of God’s faithfulness to his children, his Sovereignty over every detail of my life. He has already prepared my day. Long before I was a thought in my parent’s mind, God knew me. He stretched out my life and called it good.

He sees me now as I type these words to you. I cannot go a day without him, I would not want to face this life without him. I have the security of knowing I am his and his Holy Spirit lives in me, teaching and guiding and helping me each day. God took pleasure in me before I even knew my name. I am so very humbled by that.
(Psalm 18:19) “He brought me out into a spacious place; He rescued me because He delighted in me.”

I can rest in His goodness, not my goodness. Without Christ, there is no good in me. I have His righteousness now and that makes each day a blessing, not just something to endure, but something to enjoy and be thankful for.

On my worst day, I have the promise and assurance that God is with me. Holding me, helping me, bringing comfort to me.
Hardships come to us all, sorrow enters each of our homes and hearts at different times. Trouble finds us and tries to draw us away from our Lord, but God. God is there, all we need to do is reach out to him. He offers us all we need for each day. We are never alone. That makes me smile; knowing that even now as the words fill this page He is with me.

I don’t know what you are going through, have gone through. I don’t know if you were thankful today, or if you have even given it thought. You may never think about your body and how God keeps it going. But I hope if you have not that you will take the time right now to offer up a prayer of thanks for the new day, the new mercy that greeted it and the body that is taking you through every task.
We all choose how we will live, either thankful and grateful or bitter and angry, allowing ourselves to be our idols. An inward focus is never good.

I want to leave you with a few scriptures that bless my heart and I hope will bless yours. Every day, be thankful and joyful. God is with you, he loves you and he is able.

(Galatians 2:20) “I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.”

(Romans 8:18) “I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.”

(Corinthians 5:17) “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.”

(Proverbs 3:5) “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding.”

(Corinthians 12:9-10) “But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore, I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in my weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.”

(1 Chronicles 16:34) “Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; His love endures forever.”