I believe because I’m thankful.
I’m thankful for my parents,
I’m thankful for my siblings,
I’m thankful for my mate,
I’m thankful for my children.
But who am I thankful to?
Who gave me the people I love?
The only One I can be thankful to
Is their Creator—
And is He not my Creator, too?
But if I stop and think about it,
What if someone doesn’t have
Anybody to be thankful for?
Who can they be thankful to?
Is not my Creator—their Creator, too?
So who came first, His creations
or my Creator?
Should I not be thankful
to my Creator first
and believe because I’m His creation, too?
Edited by: ElRoyPoet, 2025
Commentary: Our spiritual life is based on relationships, not on how perfect we are as Christians. In other words, just because we are affluent, well-behaved, and attend the best church does not mean we will have a better quality of spiritual life than a person who acknowledges that he is in need of a Savior because he is a sinner.
We pray for our relationships (interceding for our family and friends, both present and prospective). Consequently, our relationship with God is rooted in prayer. As a result, when we keep our focus on Jesus Christ, our spiritual life improves. When we are thankful and pray for our relationships, we are not easily distracted.
Let’s Make A Deal
Our Creator doesn’t have to make deals with His children. It’s really simple: He will bless you and protect you as long as you obey His Commandments. Since He is the Author of the Law, He won’t change it and will not defend you from the consequences if you break it. On the other hand, the devil makes religion very complicated and will try to trick you into believing that you can make a deal. But the truth of the matter is that we are all under judgment, and we will all suffer the same consequences. By the way, nobody gets away with it, especially not the evil one. You might ask, is there no hope because we are all sinners? Yes, there is hope in Jesus for those who believe and repent. But how can you tell if someone has repented? Jesus can tell, because only He knows your true motives.
Believe in Jesus or myself
Does everybody who believes in God do so only because they have faith that He will eventually benefit them? Not me. I believe in Jesus because I have faith that He has already benefited me and my loved ones. Does everyone who doesn’t believe in God only trust in their own ability to benefit themselves and their loved ones? That used to be me when I was prideful, but now I’m thankful.
Winning the Prize
To win the prize of Heaven, I am only in a race against myself. To win the worldly prize, I am in a race against time and you, plus all your brothers. To get to Heaven, there is only one Plan A. To make it in this world, there is Plan B and all the letters in between to Z, but there is no Plan A. If I try to get to Heaven by making my own Plan, I will only become frustrated and end up with a plan called “ME.”
I Need Jesus
If you ask most religious people, “Do you believe in Jesus because you want to or because you need to?” they will usually reply, “It’s a personal choice that I have made.” I used to think that way too, that it was up to me to find Jesus. However, I could never find Him, so I assumed I just needed to choose the right church instead. Then, one evening while I was praying for my family, my heart was breaking, and in my trial, it felt like my world was crashing around me because I didn’t know how or what else I could do to help my children. So I cried out to Jesus, and He blessed me with His peace. So, if you ask me why I believe in Jesus, I will reply: “Because I’m thankful to Him for blessing me, my family, and my country.”
My Light Shines
The reason my light seems dim is that you shun me. My light shines brightest when you are in front of me. Don’t you know that you can’t see when you allow the darkness to gather around you? The light will never be hidden by darkness because it’s for all to see. Darkness is a coward and hides from public view in order to do its dark deeds. The light is everything, and darkness is nothing; it can’t exist on its own. It has no reflection; it’s the absence of light, just a mere shadow. For you see, darkness is only visible when men turn their backs and refuse to see the light.
The Devil Has a Purpose
The devil has only one goal: to replace love with hate. No matter what it takes, how long it takes, or whom it affects. For the devil is a liar and the father of lies. He tricks people with lust and convinces them that it could be love. The devil is a counterfeiter, and when the shiny outer shell of lust melts in your hands, you will see the inner core of self-loathing. Right then and there is when hate reveals itself. Because the truth of the matter is that a lie can never be true. Lies distort reality and keep us from genuine love. Recognizing deception is the first step toward freedom. Only by embracing the truth can we reject hate and find true, everlasting love.
Jesus answered, “I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me” John 14:6
My Testimony
For a lifetime, I have worried that one day I would have to meet my Maker. What will I say? How will I convince Him that while on earth, I believed in His Son Jesus? Did I try to be an evangelist, or was I just a closet Christian? When I was a young adult, for about 20 years, I was a church busybody, a tithe payer, and actively involved in fellowship. Needless to say, I regret not doing more in the spiritual areas of my life, like studying the Bible as a family, which would have spared us so much heartache. However, after my wife left me, I became burned out, and later, when my children grew up, I lost interest in organized (prosperity) religion. After that, I just floated through life without doing much to share the good news because the few people I encountered considered me a church quitter or a classic (liberal) loser because I only earned enough to make a modest living. However, I have always loved my family and tried to help them with whatever I can, and a big part of that has always been to pray to our Father in Heaven for their well-being. I am thankful for all the blessings He has given me and my loved ones. So, my hope is that He will see in me a father’s heart and show mercy to me, just as a Father shows love to His child.
God’s Plan
God has a plan for me,
God has a plan for you,
and you know what?
It is the same plan,
because He loves me
as much as He loves you.
He is our Father,
and we are His children.
That’s why He wants us to live in peace
with each other.
He has provided everything we need;
He gave us this Earth,
and He gave us His Heart.
By: ElRoyPoet , 2021
Poem Analysis:
The poem “Belief Born through Thankfulness” explores themes of gratitude, creation, and the union between the human experience and divine providence. It delves into the connection between relationships and the fundamental question of whom we owe our gratitude too. Through personal reflection and an inquiry into the nature of existence, the poem challenges readers to contemplate their relationship with both their loved ones and their Creator.
In the opening lines, the speaker expresses gratitude for various relationships: parents, siblings, a mate, and children. This enumeration highlights the importance of family and interpersonal connections in shaping our identities and experiences. Gratitude is a powerful theme throughout the Bible, as reflected in 1 Thessalonians 5:18, which states, “In everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” This verse underscores the pervasive call to acknowledge the blessings in our lives, regardless of circumstances.
The poem then shifts focus, posing the poignant question: “But who am I thankful to?” This inquiry leads the speaker to recognize that their gratitude ultimately extends to a higher power—the Creator. This aligns with biblical scripture, specifically in Psalm 100:3, which states, “Know that the Lord, He is God; it is He who made us, and we are His.” The acknowledgment of God as both the Creator of the universe and the ultimate source of love and relationships is crucial in understanding the way we interact with our surroundings and express thanks.
As the poem progresses, the speaker reflects on the plight of those who may feel disconnected or lack meaningful relationships. The lines, “What if someone doesn’t have / Anybody to be thankful for? / Who can they be thankful to?” highlight a universal concern for the lonely and the marginalized. In considering others’ experiences, the speaker extends their contemplation to the Creator’s relationship with all humanity, echoing the sentiment in Acts 17:26, which says, “And He made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth.” This verse illustrates that all individuals, regardless of their life circumstances, are part of God’s creation and thus entitled to a sense of belonging and gratitude.
The central pivot of the poem addresses the relationship between creation and Creator: “So who came first, His creation / or my Creator?” This rhetorical question invites readers to reflect on their existence and the divine intention behind it. In Genesis 1:1, we read, “In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth,” establishing the primacy of the Creator in the story of existence. The poet conveys the idea that understanding our place within creation shapes our perspective on life and our expressions of thankfulness.
Ultimately, the poem concludes with a profound realization: “So should I not be thankful / to my Creator first / and believe because I’m His creation, too?” This revelation emphasizes the foundational role of gratitude in one’s faith journey. The relationship with the Creator is paramount, as it encompasses all aspects of our lives. As articulated in Colossians 3:17, “And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.” This scripture reinforces the notion that our actions and expressions of gratitude stem from an awareness of our identity as creations of God.
