Thankful, Day Forty-Three

Make a joyful shout to the Lord, all you lands!

Serve the Lord with gladness;

Come before His presence with thanksgiving.

Know that the Lord, He is God;

It is He who has made us, and not we ourselves;

We are His people, and the sheep of His pasture.

Enter into His gates with thanksgiving,

And into His courts with praise.

Be thankful to Him, and bless His name.

For the Lord is good;

His mercy is everlasting,

And His truth endures to all generations.

Psalm 100, NKJV

We are the sheep of His pasture. And I cannot think of being a sheep in the flock of the Good Shepherd without thinking of the great 23rd Psalm and all the good things He does for me. He provides for my every need, he leads and guides me and gives me rest and restoration. He is always with me, and always comforts me. He feeds me and ministers to me and fills my life with all kinds of goodness. And like the Psalmist, His house is where I want to be.

I'm thankful tonight that Jesus has prepared a place at His table for me. Though enemies encamp about me, plotting my demise, Christ has given me the victory through faith, through His own precious blood, and through my testimony in Him. And when He starts blessing, He sits me down in the presence of my enemies and sets His blessings before me as if to say, thanks for trying, Casey gets the good stuff anyway!

I'm thankful tonight that Jesus anoints my head with oil, soothing my wounds, my aches, my pain with the sweet presence of His Holy Spirit. He eases my discomfort, He lifts me out of my discouragement, He soothes the trouble of my soul. His name is ointment poured forth, His words are sweeter than honey, His virtue is the healing balm for my soul. I may be hard pressed at times, perplexed, persecuted, and downcast, but Christ in me is the hope of glory--God's guarantee of manifested excellency!

I'm thankful tonight that Jesus fills my cup--not halfway, not three-quarters, not almost all the way to the top. Jesus fills my cup to the top and lets it overflow. When His blessings begin to come, there is nothing that can contain them. He pours out of Himself, His riches, His grace, without measure, opening the windows of heaven to heave His blessings through. O how wonderful are the benefits and blessings of serving the Lord, better far than I can think or ask, abundant over and above my wildest dreams and fervent requests.

Thank you Lord, for your blessings on me!