Things We Take For Granted

Today, during our morning prayer meeting, we chose to pray through some of the things that we all often take for granted. It was such a sweet time of prayer hearing the saints pour out their hearts in thanksgiving for some of these things. We actually had so many things listed that we didn’t even have time to thank God for them all in that meeting! For that reason, I thought I’d list them out here. Perhaps this list, which is not nearly everything we take for granted, will at least stir your hearts and minds towards other things that aren’t listed. Happy Thanksgiving!

“Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.”

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

Things we take for granted:

• The ability to see
• The ability to hear
• The ability to smell
• The ability to taste
• The ability to touch/feel
• Modern luxuries (running water, hot water, electricity, heating & air, cars, beds, washer & dryer, dishwasher, internet access, etc.)
• The various freedoms of our country
• Most of us have the ability to get up and go whenever we want (we’re not paralyzed, in a wheelchair, confined to a bed, or missing limbs)
• We’re breathing on our own (we’re not on a ventilator)
• We live on an amazing planet that has just the right conditions for us to live
• The love of your family and friends
• The many people who have influenced you for good (yes, we even forget about these somehow!)
• animals (what would the world be like without animals?)
• music
• laughter
• books
• good food
• medicine (and other medical advancements)
• memories
• most of us have mental health (at least a measure of it!)

I saved the best ones for the end (these are what God provided through Christ):

• Justification (we’re made right with God through Christ’s work on our behalf)
• Sanctification (God is working in us to slowly make us more like Christ)
• Glorification (one day God will take away our sin and all the negative effects of sin)
• Adoption (God makes us His sons and daughters)
• Reconciliation (the chasm between us and God has been bridged. The relationship has been totally mended in Christ!)
• Propitiation (God’s wrath has been fully satisfied by Christ)
• Forgiveness (All of our sins – yes, all! – are forgiven in Christ)
• Heaven to come

The list continues…

**Hint: A good way to make some of these “hit home” is to imagine what it would be like to not have them.