The Language of Trust

Only One Leper Returns to Say "Thank You."

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One of them, when he saw he was healed, came back,
praising God in a loud voice. 

He threw himself at Jesus’ feet and thanked him
— and he was a Samaritan.

Jesus asked, “Were not all 10 cleansed? Where are the other nine? 

Has no one returned to give praise to God except this foreigner?”

Then he said to him, “Rise and go; your faith has made you well.”

- Luke 17:15-19

The past year's ending note for me is the same one on which I begin this new year.

It's all about gratitude and worship. It bears repeating on this welcome post for 2018, and I quote:

Pastor Joe spoke to us about the importance of gratitude, because it is gratitude that produces worship. Luke in Chapter 17:11-19 writes about the ten lepers who were healed, but only one saw the need to go back to Jesus Christ and thank Him for the healing. We may not be leprous physically, but we all are spiritual lepers on our way to eternal damnation. We are all in desperate need of His healing touch. If we but recognize the magnitude and the depth of what we have been healed from, the spiritual decay, the rottenness, and slow but certain death, then we would waste no time bowing before Jesus and thanking Him for healing us. (An excerpt from my December 31, 2017 blog post, Hiddenness and Manifestation)

What produces gratitude?

A true awareness of our utter depravity apart from God... that I believe is what brings us to our knees before Him.

It is indeed a timely message for me.

I am standing at the doorway of a new season. A whole new adventure awaits. And on this rainy new year morning, I want to start the day, the month, and the year with GRATITUDE and WORSHIP, my two words for this new year.

For a life to be truly meaningful, gratitude and worship have to be given a major role.

But it doesn't come easy or naturally. They are heart responses that take time to cultivate. Like delicate seeds they have to be nurtured and watered. When full grown, gratitude and worship produce many fruits that bring life to any situation.

Gratitude is the language of trust.

Worship is acknowledging my complete dependence on a higher power, the supreme being who is none other than God, the One who created everything and sits sovereign on the throne, and giving Him the glory He alone deserves.

I am thankful to God for the lessons learned in 2017 that serves as the bow that propels me into God's purposes and intentions for me this year. There is a sense of quiet excitement and eager anticipation for what lies ahead. The painful and fearful circumstances of 2016 and 2017 are all heart preparation for me this year. It is the third year from 2016 when I first became aware that I was entering into a battle that was not of my choosing.

Something new is going to be revealed to me. Each day will be a worship experience for me.

I expect 2018 to be a year of recovering all that the enemy has stolen.

This is my year of recovery, payback, and restoration.

Thank You, Abba, for new beginnings.

For He says, "In the time of My favor I heard you,

and in the day of salvation I helped you."

I tell you, now is the time of God's favor,

now is the day of salvation.

2 Corinthians 6:2

Abba, I never, ever want to take Your goodness for granted. I never want to reach the end of the day without acknowledging Your protection and provision.

Let me be like that one leper, who upon seeing he had been healed, turned back to thank Jesus and worship Him. 

Lord use my life as it pleases You, let it be a pleasing aroma before Your throne.