In celebration of my thirty-second birthday, I find myself basking in a bended knee kind of gratitude. I’m overwhelmed by the goodness of Jesus and overjoyed by His kindness and grace.

When I look back at the years gone by, the story that I long to tell my kids when they grow older is that I lived a life that displayed God’s glory. After all, our life’s story is for His glory alone.

In Joshua 12, we see what seems like a history lesson of some sort. It’s one of those chapters that we tend to skim right through. We skip past all those names and move straight on to the next chapter. When history isn’t your strong point and your coffee isn’t strong enough – it’s easy to dose off in chapters like these and miss the message.

Mostly, Joshua 12 is a list of defeated kings from Joshua’s conquest to take the promised land for the promised nation; the Israelites. At this point in the book, Joshua has defeated thirty-one kings. And it was finally time for the Israelites to lay claim of the land that they had won.

Can you remember a time where you celebrated a victory?

This was Joshua’s moment to celebrate. This was Israels promise. This was a victorious moment.

Joshua 12 isn’t just a list of defeated kings; it’s a list of successful wins, a list of fulfilled promises, a list of God’s faithfulness, a list of triumphant victories, a list of unwavering goodness, a list of gratitude. It’s a list of thirty-one reasons to rejoice.

When you take a glimpse at the years gone by; your wins, victories, and blessings – do you have a list that glorifies God? Does your list shout loud the faithfulness of a great God?

Tonight, in celebration of thirty-one-derful years of life, I’m making a list: a list of successful wins, a list of fulfilled promises, a list of God’s faithfulness, a list of triumphant victories, a list of unwavering goodness, a list of gratitude. A list of thirty-one reasons to rejoice.

As I enter into a new chapter of life, I reflect and remember, I revisit history in awe and wonder of my King Jesus and everything He has done for me.

I would love it if you could join me. Grab a pen, make a list, celebrate what God has done for you.

Here’s to the next chapter, chapter thirty-two!

Cue, confetti and cupcakes!