I love a decisive verb, especially when it appears in the setting of a solid, declarative sentence. Isaiah 12 is just right for this season of gratitude, falling leaves, and stiff breezes. The prophet’s bracing words stand up to the fading light here on the far edge of the Eastern Time Zone with a pronouncement of the future words of God’s people:
You will say in that day:
“I will give thanks to you, O Lord,
for though you were angry with me,
your anger turned away,
that you might comfort me.
“Behold, God is my salvation;
I will trust, and will not be afraid;
For the LORD God is my strength and my song,
And He has become my salvation.” Isaiah 12:1,2
By making the choice to praise God in my present circumstances, I participate in the fulfillment of biblical prophecy! Furthermore, if I need prompting, Isaiah provides plenty of basis for my gratitude:
- In Christ, God’s wrath over my sin has been turned away;
- I am given comfort and a basis for trust rather than fear;
- I find that the LORD God Himself is “my strength and song.”
When I make the choice to be purposeful in my gratitude, I am receiving a gift that is offered to me through the Gospel. Isaiah wrote about a salvation he did not yet see, and I, too, write about a deliverance that is incomplete. In a world where young friends get cancer, where red tomatoes succumb to blight before harvest, and where my own harsh words cut the people I love, I pray for the coming of a kingdom where God’s will is done — perfectly.
In the meantime, by giving thanks today, I bring the bookends of already and not-yet just a little bit closer together in my world. So when I read and struggle to memorize Isaiah’s words — getting the “in that day” in the right place and using the right conjunctions — part of my song is always a prayer:
“Oh, Lord, let today be THAT DAY in which I give thanks to you.
Yes — on earth as it is in heaven.
Today.”
Trusting for grace to choose wisely and well,
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Living Our Days 
I can only say, “Amen!” for this timely word. Blessings!
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Thanks, Joanne.
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So true; especially this time of year the word Gratitude as the time of Thanksgiving is so prevalent our thoughts turn to Thanksgiving as well as the excitement of Christmas coming. The Messiah coming as a baby. I like how you say making the choice to praise in my present circumstances. Some days, I do have to make the choice to not to forget the Thank You God for my day. Have a great week ahead. 🙂
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I never want to relegate gratitude to a pumpkin-spice emotion. We need to live in it and practice it as a spiritual discipline year round. I view this season as my booster!
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‘By making the choice to praise God in my present circumstances, I participate in the fulfillment of biblical prophecy!’
Talk about living in the light of eternity. Your words this morning talk to much of what I wrestle with and turn it into a right perspective.
Thank you for the wisdom you share, week in and week out, friend …
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Isaiah always does that for me!
He didn’t mess around when he wrote about our responses to God and our lived-out obedience!
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Gratitude is life changing, mind transforming, heart tenderizing! May I have a habit of thanksgiving that defeats all of my sin nature tendencies to complain!
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Yes, it makes all the difference in how I view my day–and even my life!
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It’s good to encourage each other to give thanks. It is often the last thing we think about doing when it is the most important thing we should do first. Giving thanks can be a weapon of war in our battle against the enemy of our souls. I love how you put this:In the meantime, by giving thanks today, I bring the bookends of already and not-yet just a little bit closer together in my world.
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Yes, I have found this to be true as well. We do forget how consequential our choices are in the big picture!
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Thank you Michelle for the reminder to choose to actively give thanks today! Just what I needed to be reminded of! Blessings on you.
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