Giving Thanks For A Valued Life

 We have often said the Three Life Affirmations in recovery meetings and we’ve shared them here before.  You’ll also find some thoughts on these in the “One Minute In Recovery” blog.

1.  I am loved by God, always.  I am loved without condition.

2.  My life is of great beauty and infinite value.  God has a plan for my life that is meaningful, purposeful and joyful.  There is a work for me to do today that will bless others and give me deep satisfaction.

3.  God is always with me.  I need never face my problems alone.  Together with God, any difficulty can be worked out and overcome.

Today we want to consider that second one and what encouragement we can find in these principle that are affirmed in God’s Word.

Those words speak about the value of our life.  God’s Word affirms that:

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.  1 Peter 2:9

Our lives are not random.  Things are not spinning out of control during these topsy-turvy locked down days of the covid-19 crisis.  God has chosen us – each one of us, prepared us and gifted us for this day and this set of circumstances so we could experience how special and useful we are in God’s plan.  While our way forward may seem dark, God calls us out of that darkness to come into His wonderful light.  He is making a way for us to know joy and peace and purpose today. 

Let’s pray and enter into the joy and rest that comes from knowing we matter to God and that He has good plans for us today:

God, you have made us in love and beauty. We don’t necessarily feel all that beautiful these days but You have created us in love and You delight in us today.  This time of the pandemic doesn’t seem like a beautiful season of our life but You are with us in love and ready to help us find meaning and purpose even in these very different days.

Help us to be conscious of Your presence with us and Your delight in us.  We are your chosen people, Your special possession.  We want the ears of our soul to hear those joyful songs you are singing over us and let those sweet sounds calm all our fears.  We are safe in Your care today.

For the Lord your God is living among you. He is a mighty savior. He will take delight in you with gladness.  With his love, he will calm all your fears. He will rejoice over you with joyful songs.   Zephaniah 3:17

Lord Jesus, we are not able to figure out many plans these days because of circumstances around us but would You help our hearts to be quiet as we seek to hear Your voice as You share Your plans for us in this day.  Would you use us today to show the world your love and kindness through us.  Show us what we should be occupied with today. 

God says:  I alone know the plans I have for you, plans to bring you prosperity and not disaster, plans to bring about the future you hope for.   Jeremiah 29:11

We thank you for your abundant provision for all that we need today.  Thank you for your promise that at all times, in all things, having everything we need we can abound in good work. 

And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.  2 Corinthians 9:8

Once again today w affirm that we are ,in fact, your masterpiece, created in Christ Jesus to do good work which you planned for us long ago. 

For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.  Ephesians 2:10

Help us to live inside Your plan and Your generous provision and together with You, make this day a real masterpiece of Your love and goodness lived out through us.