Jesus Calling - March 25th, 2025

Jesus Calling: March 25th

Let thanksgiving temper all your thoughts. A thankful mindset keeps you in touch with Me. I hate it when My children grumble, casually despising My sovereignty. Thankfulness is a safeguard against this deadly sin. Furthermore, a grateful attitude becomes a grid through which you perceive life. Gratitude enables you to see the Light of My Presence shining on all circumstances. Cultivate a thankful heart, for this glorifies Me and fills you with Joy.

RELATED SCRIPTURE:

1st Corinthians 10:10 (NIV)
10 And do not grumble, as some of them did—and were killed by the destroying angel.

Additional insight regarding 1st Corinthians 10:10: Paul warned the Corinthian believers not to grumble. We start to grumble when our attention shifts from what we have to what we don't have. The people of Israel didn't seem to notice what God was doing for them - setting them free, making them a nation, giving them a new land - because they were so wrapped up in what God wasn't doing for them. They could think of nothing but the delicious Egyptian food they had left behind (Numbers 11:5). Before we judge the Israelites too harshly, it's helpful to think about what occupies our attention most of the time. Are we grateful for what God has given us, or are we always thinking about what we would like to have? Don't allow your unfulfilled desires to cause you to forget God's gifts of life, family, friends, food, health, and work.

Hebrews 12:28-29 (NIV)
28 Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe, 29 for our “God is a consuming fire.”

Additional insight regarding Hebrews 12:27-29: Eventually the world will crumble, and only God's kingdom will last. Those who follow Christ are part of this unshakable Kingdom, and they will withstand the shaking, sifting, and burning. When we feel unsure about the future, we can take confidence from these verses. No matter what happens here, our future is built on a solid foundation that cannot be destroyed; instead, build your life on Christ and his unshakable Kingdom.
(see Matthew 7:24-27 for the importance of building on a solid foundation -> 24 “Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. 25 The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. 26 But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. 27 The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.”

Additional insight regarding Hebrews 12:28: Here are five ways we can be thankful: (1) We can be thankful that God answers our friends, (2) We can be thankful for God's provision for our needs, (3) We can be thankful for God's blessings, (4) We can be thankful for God's character and wondrous works, and (5) we can be thankful for our brothers and sisters in Christ.

Today's Prayer:

Heavenly Father,

Teach us to let gratitude temper all our thoughts. Keep us in touch with You, guarding against grumbling and despising Your power and goodness.

Grant us a grateful attitude, Lord, that becomes a lens through which we perceive life and helps us see the countless blessings. Help us to see Your presence shining in all circumstances.

Cultivate within us a thankful heart, God, for it glorifies You and fills us with joy. In Jesus' perfect name, Amen.