Only by the Blood

By: Jason White

As the holidays approach and conversations tilt toward gratitude, it’s easy to make thankfulness feel like a seasonal exercise—something we dust off in November and tuck away in January. But real, soul-rooted thankfulness isn’t built on circumstances, comfort, or even answered prayers. It’s anchored in something far deeper and more eternal: the finished work of Jesus.

Lately, I’ve had Red Rocks Worship’s song “Only by the Blood” on repeat. The lyrics are simple, yet they cut straight to the heart: “Where would I be if it wasn’t for the blood?
The blood of Jesus.” Every time I hear that line, I’m reminded that the foundation of true thankfulness begins at the cross.

Thankfulness Starts With Remembering
Scripture constantly calls God’s people to remember:

• Remember what the Lord has done.
• Remember His faithfulness.
• Remember His mercy.
• Remember His covenant.

Thanksgiving flows naturally when we take time to reflect on what we have only because of Jesus. Not earned. Not deserved. Not achieved. Given. And that’s exactly what “Only by the Blood” proclaims. It shifts our focus from what we want God to do, to what He has already done. The more we meditate on that, the more gratitude rises within us—not forced, but freely.

The Cross Makes Gratitude Possible
Thankfulness becomes powerful when it’s rooted in grace:

• We are forgiven—only by the blood.
• We are redeemed—only by the blood.
• We are restored—only by the blood.
• We are welcomed into God’s presence—only by the blood.

No matter what is happening around us, the cross remains the unshakeable reason we can give thanks. Gratitude ceases to be about life going perfectly and becomes about Christ giving His life perfectly.

Gratitude Reframes Everything
When you start your gratitude with the blood of Jesus, everything else begins to shift:

• Hard seasons look different when you remember you’re not facing them alone.
• Prayers that haven’t been answered yet don’t feel hopeless.
• The pressure to prove yourself melts away.
• Joy grows in places you didn’t expect it to.

The more we remember what we have in Christ, the more we find ourselves grateful—not just for the big moments, but in the ordinary, the mundane, and even the painful.

A Simple Prayer of Thankfulness
Maybe today you don’t feel especially grateful. That’s okay. Gratitude isn’t a feeling—it’s a posture. It begins with remembering.
Let this be your prayer:
Jesus, thank You for Your blood. 
Thank You for forgiveness I couldn’t earn.
Thank You for grace I don’t deserve.
Thank You that You never leave me, never stop loving me, and never stop working in my life.
Everything I have, everything I am,
is only by Your blood. Amen.

Only by the Blood—Always by Grace
As you listen to Red Rocks Worship’s “Only by the Blood,” let it draw your heart back to the foundation of all thankfulness. Let it remind you that your story is redeemed, your soul is secure, and your future is bright—not because of your strength, but because of His sacrifice. And when you whisper the words, “Where would I be if it wasn’t for the blood?”
Let gratitude rise. Because the answer is simple—and life-changing: We have everything to be thankful for.
Only by the blood.