Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. He chose to give us birth through the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of all he created. James 1:17-18
Dear heavenly Father, I awoke today a grateful man, and I want to live that way all day long. Now, I’m sure that attitude will be challenged by life in this broken world and by the heart that beats in this broken man. But as someone who has every reason to overflow with thanksgiving, here’s a few of your gifts for which I give you praise this morning.
First and foremost, I praise you for being, as James writes, the “changeless Father of heavenly lights,” as opposed to being the impetuous god of shifting shadows. We cannot predict, control, or presume on the outworking of your will; but we can completely trust you to be impassible (without mood swings), and passionately good and faithful.
And I adore you for the gospel of your grace—the gift of Jesus, who lived and died in our place to make us yours. Speaking of which, I bless you for giving life to me twice—the first time I breathed in oxygen, the second time you breathed the life of Jesus into my spirit. Both were sheer acts of your outrageous generosity.
And I’m also thankful for the multiplicity of gifts you bestow of us as your children. Most recently, I’d include these: The sweet news that I’m going to have a second grandson in October; 100 pounds of King Salmon filets from a recent fishing trip to Alaska; corporate worship with so many old and new friends yesterday; the classic songs of Motown; the assurance that, one Day, you will finish making me like Jesus; the last piece of frozen carrot cake I savored yesterday; and the hope (many certain hopes) of our coming life in the new heaven and new earth.
Father, these are just a few of the many, many gifts that come down from you all the time. What do I have that I have not received from you? Nothing. What gift have you given me that you don’t intend me to enjoy? None. How can I live as a “kind of firstfruits of all you’ve created”? Show me. So very Amen I pray, in Jesus’ most glorious and grace-full name.
