With a Thankful Heart 

(our theme for November)

Psalm 136:1

Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good. His love endures forever.

I don’t mean to, but I take things for granted. I say thank you often, but there are many times that I just expect things to be there for me. I do not thank God for all that is given. I take it as a given that the sun will shine, that I will have people to help me, that not only will I have a next meal but that it will taste good and nourish me, that when I’m sick I will heal, that I will be loved. The list goes on and on. And yet, His love endures even when I do not notice it. Thanks be to God.

His love endures forever even when I lose hope and faith, and I wonder at a world that sometimes seems filled to the breaking point with war, famine, disease, and hate. When I am discouraged, God is still good, and His love for me and for all endures. Thanks be to God.

His love endures forever even when I act in ways that show just how much I do not understand about love. When I become angry, when I blame, when I become cynical, when I am arrogant, when I am selfish, His love endures forever. Thanks be to God.

Why should I thank the Lord? Because his love endures when I falter. I am forgiven when I sin. When I think I can no longer endure, God is good, and he loves me. For the ground I stand on, for the ability to write this message, for the Body of Christ that holds me every moment of every day, thanks be to God!

Let us pray:

God’s love endures- forever. Hallelujah, praise the Lord, and Thank You, God for all! Just as I struggle to love like you do, I struggle to comprehend just how much I have to be thankful for. Please continue to show me the way. Amen.

Today's devotional was written by Jill Pope and read by Joey Smith.

Grace for All is a daily devotional podcast produced by the members of the congregation of First United Methodist Church in Maryville, Tennessee. With these devotionals, we want to remind listeners on a daily basis of the love and grace that God extends to all human beings, no matter their location, status, or condition in life. 

If you would like to respond to these devotionals in any way, we would enjoy hearing from you. Our email address is: podcasts@1stchurch.org. 

First United Methodist Church is a lively, spirit-filled congregation whose goal is to spread the message of love and grace into our community and throughout the world. We are located on the web at https://1stchurch.org/.