GRATITUDE

Read: Psalm 33:20-22

Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change. – James 1: 17

When we are actively grateful for life’s blessings and for what we have, we distract ourselves from what we think is wrong with our lives and what we think we need. Matthew 6:21 informs us that what we set our heart on actually becomes our treasure. Do we treasure the spiritual aspects of life or the natural? Do we obsess and brood on what is missing: or do we feel gratitude for what God provides for us? 1 Thessalonians 5:18 admonishes us to give thanks in all circumstances, because this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for us. Did you ever consider that the negative circumstances in your life occurred to bless you?

Romans 8: 28 reminds us that we can bank on the fact that all things work together for good for those who love God and who are called according to His purpose. So, hold out your arms wide and wait. He will fill them. It may not be what you want, but it will most certainly be what you need. It may not bring you happiness, but it will bring you abiding joy. It may not give you fame, riches, or worldly pleasure; but it will bring you a satisfying fulfillment that the world could never match. 

Psalm 100 gives us so many things to thank God for providing. Being thankful for family, friends, healthy minds and bodies, and daily provision for all of our needs helps us to focus on the positive (Psalm 107:1). Our ability to see, to breathe, to hear, to think, to reflect, to notice, to enjoy and to feel deeply comes from God and increases our sensitivity and awareness of the world within us and around us (Ephesians 5: 20). Appreciating all of the little blessings in our lives makes us ready to receive the bigger things God has planned for our future (Matthew 25:23).  

Sit at your Heavenly Father’s feet as a loving child. Rest your head in His lap and feel Him caressing your hair with His nail scarred hands. Praise Him for all that He gives you. Honestly share with Him your needs and concerns without any preconceived expectations. Then wait on Him with eager anticipation for whatever He has in store for you. Do not whine, nag, complain or dictate to Him. Just rest in His love and sit at His feet with eager anticipation of His supply (Psalm 50:23).  

Worry comes when we look too far ahead into the future or obsess over the past. The buzz words today are to “live in the moment” or “in the now”. These are very descriptive ways to describe how to live. We learn to appreciate all of the nuances of the moment if we focus on the here and now, instead of the past or future. When we overly analyze what is happening, or worse case scenario about what may happen in the future, or feel guilt and dread over the past, we rob our life of energy needed to follow God’s will in this minute of time. Put the past and the future in God’s capable hands and follow the leading of His Spirit as He directs you through each and every moment of the day.

Prayer:

Lord Jesus, You are my God, and I will give thanks to You; You are my God, and I will worship You. I give thanks to You, Lord, for You are good; for Your steadfast love endures forever (Psalm 118:28-29).

Thought for the Day:

Therefore let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, and thus let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe. - Hebrews 12:28 

Pleasures Forevermore

Read: Ecclesiastes 2:10-11

“I have seen all the things that are done under the sun;
all of them are meaningless, a chasing after the wind.” - Ecclesiastes 1:14

KinKKing Solomon spent his time, wealth
and efforts attempting to discover the missing piece in his life.
He sought for true satisfaction in worldly pursuits.
As the King, he had all the resources he needed to ascertain
whatever pleasures he desired.
In the book of Ecclesiastes, Solomon tells us the story of his quest. He attempted to gain
 satisfaction in his soul by pursuing
addictions of every kind.

Even with all of his God given wisdom, it took Solomon years to concluded that what the world offers is fun for a season, but eventually every one of his acquisitions turned out the same way. They were all vain and empty. Solomon repeatedly described his investigation as chasing after the wind. He traveled the world to find out what the Psalmist discovered on the hills watching his sheep, “God makes known to us the true path of life; in His presence there is fullness of joy; at His right hand are pleasures forevermore (Psalm 16:11).

When we seek God first, He brings fulfillment to our life in a multitude of areas. He opens doors for us that no one else can open and He closes those that no one else can close. He knows exactly what we need in our life to feel fulfilled. Therefore, our initial pursuit in life is to first become whole in Christ. Then we get grounded in His Word, filled with His Spirit and lost in His love. We need nothing and no one to make us happy apart from Him.

Single people are not "half" a person, nor are they deficient in any way. They do not need another person in their life to fulfill them. They are capable of meeting most of their needs and going to God to supply the rest. Oh the other hand,
when two people who are replete in Christ (Colossians 2: 10) come together in marriage, they
compliment and edify each other
because Christ resides in both of them. They serve Him together and they fulfill His will for their lives. Our relationship with Christ is what really bring us true pleasures forevermore.

Prayer:

Lord Jesus, earthly pursuits are vain and fleeting. Teach us to value eternal treasures and to seek Your will for our lives each and every day. Help us to make You the focus of our life and to enhance all of our relationships through your wisdom and love.

Thought for the Day:

Man is like a breath; his days are like a fleeting shadow. – Psalm 144:4