October 9, 2018 - - Psalm 43:3-4 - - Thankfulness

Send forth your light and your truth,

let them guide me;

let them bring me to your holy mountain,

to the place where you dwell.

Then I will go to the altar of God,

to God my joy and my delight.

I will praise you with the harp,

O God, my God.

Psalm 43:3-4 NIV

Jesus, our Savior, declared in the Gospel of John: "I am the light of the world". In that same Gospel He proclaimed: "I am the way, the truth and the life". For us as New Testament Christians it is Jesus, our Redeemer and King Who brings us to our Father in heaven. It is Jesus Who prayed to the Father so that the Holy Spirit is given to believers in order that we may understand the joy and delight that are ours in Christ.

Yesterday I had the opportunity to hear Rev. Brian Murray preach the Thanksgiving Day Service. He noted: "Prayer is the most important part thankfulness...Prayer is the out-working of what God has done for us in Christ: Christ purchased redemption and reconciliation with God, communion and fellowship are established. Christ purchased prayer for us--it is essential--this must become the most important part of our thankfulness."

You are God, my Stronghold!

I will praise Your Name forever, giving thanks because of the work of Jesus Christ--Who brings me to the place where You dwell in splendour and glory.

I thank You, God my Father, for the wondrous gift of Jesus, Who leads me into Your presence, forgiven and clean, going with anticipation as a well-loved child.

Spirit of God, as this day unfolds, fix my mind on Jesus Christ, that I may worship Him and through Him give thanks to My Father in heaven for all the rich blessings of being His child.

When the amen is sounded from my lips, though the formal prayer time may be ended, let my heart and my mind remain fixed on You throughout the day. In Jesus' Name and for the glory of God I pray: Amen.