iBelieve - Christian Women Inspirational Devotionals

A Prayer of Thanksgiving for the Cross
By Keneesha Saunders-Liddie

Bible Reading:
“For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.” - 1 Corinthians 1:18

Listen or Read Below:

If it were not for the cross of Calvary, we would have no hope. We would be, of all men, most miserable without a way out of our original destiny. I’m thankful to God for so many things. Right now, I’m thankful that summer’s heat is coming to an end, but more importantly than that, I’m thankful for the cross.

The songwriter of “At the Cross” says, “At the cross, at the cross, where I first saw the light and the burdens of my heart rolled away, it was there by faith I received my sight, and now I’m happy all the day.”

Is this how you feel when you think of the cross? Are you happy all day just thinking of what Jesus has rescued you from? I can’t think of a greater sacrifice one can offer than the life of their child. Jesus presented himself to go to the cross on our behalf and made a way when we were destined for a Christless eternity. He has given us an opportunity and an option to choose life, even if we face death, our greatest enemy. Without his sacrifice, without the cross, there would be no hope.

This Thanksgiving, let us set aside the superficial gifts and blessings, and let us fix our eyes and focus on the cross. There is salvation and freedom that come with being thankful for the cross. When we look at all of the things this world has to offer, I think, how can any of these things have value if there is no hope? God tells us to lay up our treasures in heaven, not on earth, where moss can corrupt; yet we tend to focus on the external blessings that God provides. If all that Jesus gave us was his death on the cross of Calvary, it would be enough. Why? Because Jesus lives, life is worth living.

Everything has meaning because Jesus died on the cross of Calvary. He paid the debt we all owed but could never pay. Today, I am thankful for the cross for its keeping power. God didn’t just extend salvation to us through the cross; he is the one who sustains and keeps us. Did you think you were keeping yourself? You might have believed that reading God’s Word, praying, and fasting were what enabled you to keep serving our God. No, my friend, God saves, keeps, and He satisfies. He didn’t just leave us to fend for ourselves. His holy spirit is equipping us and maturing us into the image of Christ.

Many things have happened this year, both good and bad. However, let us be thankful for the cross. Let’s be thankful that Jesus went through the horrible ordeal of crucifixion, a form of punishment that guarantees death. A form of death so bad no one would wish it on their own enemies. Jesus was apprehensive in the Garden of Gethsemane, but he thought of you and me and decided to love us when we were unlovable. He reconciled us to God through death on the cross.

Let’s Pray:

Abba Father,

Thank you for dying for me. Thank you for allowing me to see another year of thanksgiving. You have been so, so good to me, oh Lord. There is nothing I can do to repay the debt you paid on my behalf when you went to the cross of Calvary in my stead. But this Thanksgiving, I remember and I’m thankful for the cross. Without it, man would be lost, and Old Testament saints would still be waiting in paradise. But you made a way, Lord. A way that was not pleasant; a way no one would choose.

You decided to go to the cross on our behalf. Thank you for your sacrifice, dear Lord. Thank you for sending your only begotten son to save mankind. Help me this Thanksgiving to be thankful for everything you have blessed me with. But more than that, help me to be thankful for the cross of Calvary. Thank you for keeping me and sustaining me.

In Jesus' name, Amen.

Share your reflections on today’s devotional in the Your Daily Prayer discussion on the Crosswalk Forum.

Keneesha Saunders-Liddie is a wife and mom. She is an avid reader of wholesome romance novels and a writer. She has a Master's in Biblical Counseling as she believes in the sufficiency of Scripture. As a pastor’s kid, she fell in love with the way Jesus loved her at an early age and wants to encourage others to live for Him through her words. You can find more musings from her at keneeshaliddie.com

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