Grateful in Every Season
- Rachelle Mallari
- Dec 22, 2023
- 3 min read
And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. - Colossians 3:15
Celebrate the birth of our Redeemer, the Lord Jesus Christ! Oh come let us adore Him!
"While the earth remains, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night, shall not cease." (Genesis 8:22). The Lord has given us seasons year in and year out so we could marvel how He has preserved His wonderful creation that adapts to change and survives.
And as we witness and live the transition from cold and long nights to flowers blooming, to long hot days, to harvest and leaves turning colors, we, too, could find ourselves in a certain season of life. You could be in a personal season of sadness and heartbreak, in a phase of new beginnings and hope, in a flourishing and thriving time, or even in a period of barrenness and hopelessness. Our family has been in a season of waiting, which seems like the Lord is taking a long time answering our prayers. But during this time, His grace and faithfulness are unfailing. We hold on to the eternal truth and rest in the promise of Psalm 46:1 “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.”
Whichever season we are in, remember that as God designed the seasons in nature, each to serve its own purpose, He also allows us to go through chapters in our lives (especially the difficult ones) to work in us for our own good and for His glory. When we are firmly rooted in Christ, regardless of the season, we will be able to be still and know that our God is sovereign, and we will find His goodness in every situation.
When nothing in our life looks praiseworthy, or there is nothing much to be thankful for, we look back to what God has done in the past and look forward with hope in what He is able to do in the future. And be thankful. As the seasons change, this, too shall pass.
Oh give thanks to the Lord for He is good, for His steadfast love endures forever! - Psalm 107:1
In all of life's seasons, we choose to be grateful to the Lord for millions of things. We would like to share our "Benefits Inventory" with you, hoping you would be encouraged to make one, too. You don't need to think hard to find stuff to be grateful for. Start with the little things like coffee, music, or warm showers. Categorize or alphabetize! List them as they come, name them one by one. Our prayer is that you would grow in gratitude, keep track of His many blessings, and express your thanks to Him and others who have blessed you. (Take the Gratitude Challenge!)
Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits. - Psalm 103:2
The Mallari family is grateful for
Jesus for dying on the cross and the gift of salvation
the Bible
our families
friends and loved ones
wisdom
good health
food, shelter, and clothing
financial provisions
2023
This is our top ten, and we could go on without end counting our blessings. First on our list is Jesus, and that alone could be an endless list of blessings, including His love, grace, mercy, forgiveness, faithfulness, the fruit of the Spirit, and so on and so forth. Take time to wonder anew at God's benefits, and you will find yourself humbled, acknowledging that the world doesn’t owe us anything, and instead of grumbling, thanking and praising the God of all creation.
Make it a lifestyle to be thankful until your heart naturally beats with praise and gratitude.
We give thanks to God always for all of you, constantly mentioning you in our prayers, remembering before our God and Father your work of faith and labor of love and steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ. - 1 Thessalonians 1:2-3
Let us know how you are doing, and we would love to pray for you. We are grateful for you -- for all your prayers, support, and love. We are deeply humbled and encouraged. All Glory be to Christ!
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