Lord We Give Thanks

Lord, there is no choice to a knowing heart but to be deeply thankful to you every day. The greatness of your character makes provision to give us life at every moment. But on this day of particular expression, we your children, long to simply thank you with an even louder voice ... for the great and awesome person that you choose to be ... and for the power of your mercy and favor.

Your great patience and mercy make provision for us to exist every moment and your great love allows us to walk in the garden of your grace and favor even though we're found undeserving. You have clothed us in a robe of high honor, a righteousness that we have not earned and you have made us heir to a kingdom to which we have no right of claim save by your generous appointment.

Without salvation our spirits were orphans condemned from birth having been born blind into a world of darkness and separation, a place created by sin. Alone we cried in the wilderness of this foreign place and hid trembling in the fear of death. Born without title and lost to our purpose, we were without hope, destined to perish - our own righteousness in it's greatest accomplishments having earned us only the comfort to predict the future of our certain doom.

But in the moment of our great despair we heard a faint voice calling. The source of it unknown yet familiar, gave us courage to seek it out. Groping along the precipice of devastation there came to our blind eyes a faint light to draw us away and as we found ourselves at the point of surrender to it, the sound and light of salvation grew stronger.

Having the power of choice to call the greatest of kings to the honor of your magnificent presence, from the kindness of your great heart, you chose instead to beckon ones unworthy.

We were faint and you strengthened us. We were dirty and bore the stench of sin - you made us clean and perfumed us with your grace. We were naked and ashamed - you clothed us in righteousness and honor. We were without purpose and title - you made us your willing slaves and called us your own children. We were paupers and slaves to death - you made us holy royalty with the riches of the highest kingdom.

Our destiny now is eternal and the earth once dark and forbidding, prospers under our feet as the light and power of Your spirit within us gives life to our footsteps. We marvel at your love and grace and rise anxious to sing your praise. So on this day as any Lord, to you we have the awesome privilege to be thankful ... and with a depth of gratitude unceasing ... we offer you, our Sovereign Lord, our humbled thanks...