The Hope of Glory

I'd like to start by saying, "Happy Thanksgiving!" to anyone reading this. I hope today is a wonderful day of giving thanks for you. I realize that holidays can be pretty painful for many people for various reasons, and I am asking the Lord to give you joy in the midst of this today.

Last night at our Thanksgiving church service, we prayed a corporate prayer from the Book of Common Prayer that I really appreciated. Here is one excerpt:

We bless you for our creation, preservation, and all the blessings of this life; but above all for your immeasurable love in the redemption of the world by our Lord Jesus Christ; for the means of grace, and for the hope of glory.

However you are feeling today, relish the last reality of that prayer -- as believers in Jesus Christ, we have an immeasurable hope of glory. He has graciously desired to share His glory with us and "I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that will be revealed in us" (Romans 8:18). That glory will one day be fully realized, but even today you share in that glory with Him! May we recall that to mind and thank Him for that regardless of how we feel today.

Happy Day of Giving Thanks to the God who has blessed you with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms" (Eph. 1:3).