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This month I am starting a series for November titled Thankfulness Exercises. Why? Because I would like for them to be most useful to you. Each week I will focus on a different general topic for you to specifically focus on for yourself. The topic for this month is being thankful for who God is. Because that is the most important basis of our hope, I chose it for the first topic to focus on today.
For review, hope is confident expectation based on the person and promises of God. The reason I say who God is, is the most important part of this definition, is that we not only base our hope on who He is, but also on HIs promises. If we can’t trust His promises, then we will have a big problem! So who God is, is deep at the core of hope. It affects the One in whom we are placing our hope and the One whose promises we are trusting.
See list of God’s Attributes at the bottom of the page as a resource
**I will give you a list at the bottom of the page of attributes of God. It’s not an exhaustive list by any means, but it will be enough to prime the pump I hope. For now, choose one. Make some time to think through what that attribute means to you as found in God, your heavenly Father. But don’t stop there. Also remember that His attributes are not sterile and totally separate from all his other attributes. Also remember that His attributes are not like our human ones that are frail, imperfect, and often limited by resources.
God’s aren’t. He is perfect, omnipotent, omnipresent, omniscient, majestic, holy, righteous, good, love, merciful, gracious…
Whatever attribute we chose to focus on, is mixed with the others perfectly. His attributes never get out of balance. He never gets too full of Himself…He is God. He is at the top. He is able to fulfill any claims He makes about Himself. He has all the resources at His disposal to fulfill any promise He makes. It is difficult to imagine what that would be like!
1. So take a minute to choose an attribute. Then think of that attribute and what it would be like in the context of belonging to God and being part of His personality, in balance with all the other parts of His personality.
2. Thank Him for that aspect of His personality. Thank Him for who He is in HIs totality. Is there a Psalm that reminds you of what you are thankful for? It may be in the Psalms or one of the other books such as Isaiah, Job or poetic book. Type in the attribute in Bible Gateway and see what comes up. If you don’t see much in the common translation you use, check out a different translation. You will find quite a variety of translations there. (To the right of the phrase or references you put in, you will see the versions of the Bible to choose from. Choose which you want from the drop down menu.)
3. Print out the passage on paper or write it out and memorize it or read it over often enough that you become familiar with it.
4. Share it with a friend or grandchild. Tell them why you came across it. They might enjoy hearing about it. Find ways to pray this passage as part of your prayer of worship and thanks.)
**GOD’S ATTRIBUTES
Holy
Righteous
Merciful
Gracious
Omnipotent (all powerful)
Omnipresent (ever present)
Omniscient (all knowing)
Perfect
Majestic
Transcendent
Good
Loving
Just
for starters…
Here is an example:
Attribute: Majesty.
Scripture: Psalm 93:1-4 ESV
The Lord reigns; he is robed in majesty;
the Lord is robed; he has put on strength as his belt.
Yes, the world is established; it shall never be moved.
Your throne is established from of old;
you are from everlasting.
The floods have lifted up, O Lord,
the floods have lifted up their voice;
the floods lift up their roaring.
Mightier than the thunders of many waters,
mightier than the waves of the sea,
the Lord on high is mighty!
Take some time to think about what the passage is talking about, what it means, Then do some journaling.
Then take time to think about this passage and journal a bit. Pray before you start each time and ask the Holy Spirit to give you insight. Make use of a study ‘bible. It may help you understand some things about the background of the time it was written. It often gives understanding of the passage.
What does it mean that God reigns? That He is robed in majesty? What does it mean that He has strength as His belt? etc. Just work your way through the passage a phrase at a time, not necessarily at one sitting.
