Last week, I encouraged you to think about what you are thankful for. With the Thanksgiving holiday on the horizon, more time for reflection ought to be stirred up. Still, not only should we consider where we have been and where we are going, but where we are now. Think about this as it relates to Thanksgiving even. To properly appreciate the Thanksgiving holiday, we ought to understand how it came about, as well as what changes it can produce in us moving forward. Yet, what would the day mean without enjoying the moments with those that we love? Considering this, it is essential that we are always mindful of the past and the future, but not to the point where we forget to live in the moment. We thank God for the blessings that He has provided to us in the past and we are thankful that we can pray to God to ask for blessings in the future. We also ought to be thankful for the blessing of God sustaining us and hearing our prayers within the present (1 John 5:14).
“WITH THANKFUL HEARTS, MAY WE ALWAYS HAVE HOPE IN THE FACT THAT OF HIM AND THROUGH HIM AND TO HIM ARE ALL THINGS.”
Unlike us, God does not have to compare His past, present, and future. He is outside of space and time. He is the self-sufficient One who never changes; the Great I AM (Exodus 3:14). There is a famous Narnia exchange between Aslan and Lucy: “Aslan,” said Lucy, “you’re bigger.” “That is because you are older, little one,” answered he. “Not because you are?” “I am not. But every year you grow, you will find me bigger” (Lewis, 1951). What a beautiful exchange and a humbling sentiment. For this, we can be grateful: that God’s nature does not depend on us. If there is a change that must occur, it must take place in our own hearts, or own souls, and our own minds. Accordingly, may our hearts, souls, and minds be aligned with the Will of God, and with thankful hearts, may we always have hope in the fact that of Him and through Him and to Him are all things (Romans 11:36).
