Day Forty One: Expressing Gratitude in the Midst of A Storm
It's probably one of the hardest things you can do right now. It's very easy to focus on what's going wrong and to bemoan your current situation. I know. I've done it. I've had a lot of practice because I've been going through a rough patch for almost eight and half years. I have also been very quick to express my frustration and anger over certain things. I guess I can say I'm human and excuse myself for wallowing in self-pity and doubt. I'm telling you, however, that that focus leads to more stress and heartache than you can ever imagine. I've even had some physical reactions to the stress that I've put myself under over my circumstances.
Gratitude doesn't come naturally. Yet it is needed especially in the midst of a storm. When you start to focus on more positive things, your life will actually brighten. In Deuteronomy 26:11(KJV) it states: "And thou shalt rejoice in every good thing which the Lord thy God hath given thee, and unto thine house, thou, and the Levite, and the stranger that is among you." I bet if you concentrate you can come up with at least a dozen things that you are grateful to have.
I know that I am grateful for my family and friends, even though I can't touch them right now. I am grateful that God has continued to provide food and shelter for me. I am grateful for the Internet and this avenue of access, even though I still hurt for those who don't have it. When I really think about it, I realize that it all comes from God's loving kindness towards me. I read in Isaiah 63:7(KJV) "I will mention the lovingkindnesses of the Lord, and the praises of the Lord, according to all that the Lord hath bestowed on us, and the great goodness towards the house of Israel, which he hath bestowed on them according to his mercies, and according to the multitude of his lovingkindness." I would be remiss in not mentioning the opportunities I've had over the past eight and half years to meet so many interesting people. I am grateful for those opportunities.
Expressing gratitude in the midst of a storm is probably the hardest thing to do. It is only after you have gotten past the crisis that you feel like expressing gratitude. I get that. There are some days that I rather wallow in despair and think that it won't get any better. I admittedly do cringe when someone says that we have to get used to this "new normal." This is the crux of the argument though, that in some ways they are right. We do have to get used to the new normal, because things will definitely not be the same as they were back in February. The way I've gotten through it is not to focus on the bad stuff that people are touting, but to focus on the good stuff. In Jonah 2:9(KJV) while Jonah was still in the belly of a whale, we read: "But I will sacrifice unto thee with the voice of thanksgiving; I will pay that that I have vowed. Salvation is of the Lord." Note that Jonah didn't praise and thank the Lord after he caused the whale to spit him out, but during that crisis.
Acts 17 is an interesting chapter as it describes the unknown God to the Greeks in Athens, In verse 28 we read: "For in him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain also of your own poets have said, For we are also his offspring."(KJV). It is important to note that our focus is on God, not on our circumstances. When we focus on him, and not on ourselves we do get a better perspective on things. In I Thessalonians 5:16-18 (KJV) we see that we should "Rejoice evermore. Pray without ceasing. In every thing give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you." I can rejoice when my focus is on God. I may not understand why or what he's doing right now, but I don't need to. Yes, I can pray, and we should be in a prayerful state 24/7 as we thank God that he is in control.
I Timothy 6:17-19(KJV) does cement the principles that we should live by when it says: "Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not high minded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy; That they do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to communicate; Laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life." Well, you're probably wondering what to do right now, and maybe be thinking that there are many examples of people in government and other industries that are really acting high minded. It is, however, a good benchmark for us to use the resources we do have. We too can be high minded, while we trust in sources that we see are now gone. We need to trust God. He is the One that gives us all things.
Gratitude is an expression that overflows onto the people around us. Doing good for others, and using the gifts God gave you is a great reflection of God's love. It builds on the strong foundation that we have in Christ Jesus.
Gratitude doesn't come naturally. Yet it is needed especially in the midst of a storm. When you start to focus on more positive things, your life will actually brighten. In Deuteronomy 26:11(KJV) it states: "And thou shalt rejoice in every good thing which the Lord thy God hath given thee, and unto thine house, thou, and the Levite, and the stranger that is among you." I bet if you concentrate you can come up with at least a dozen things that you are grateful to have.
I know that I am grateful for my family and friends, even though I can't touch them right now. I am grateful that God has continued to provide food and shelter for me. I am grateful for the Internet and this avenue of access, even though I still hurt for those who don't have it. When I really think about it, I realize that it all comes from God's loving kindness towards me. I read in Isaiah 63:7(KJV) "I will mention the lovingkindnesses of the Lord, and the praises of the Lord, according to all that the Lord hath bestowed on us, and the great goodness towards the house of Israel, which he hath bestowed on them according to his mercies, and according to the multitude of his lovingkindness." I would be remiss in not mentioning the opportunities I've had over the past eight and half years to meet so many interesting people. I am grateful for those opportunities.
Expressing gratitude in the midst of a storm is probably the hardest thing to do. It is only after you have gotten past the crisis that you feel like expressing gratitude. I get that. There are some days that I rather wallow in despair and think that it won't get any better. I admittedly do cringe when someone says that we have to get used to this "new normal." This is the crux of the argument though, that in some ways they are right. We do have to get used to the new normal, because things will definitely not be the same as they were back in February. The way I've gotten through it is not to focus on the bad stuff that people are touting, but to focus on the good stuff. In Jonah 2:9(KJV) while Jonah was still in the belly of a whale, we read: "But I will sacrifice unto thee with the voice of thanksgiving; I will pay that that I have vowed. Salvation is of the Lord." Note that Jonah didn't praise and thank the Lord after he caused the whale to spit him out, but during that crisis.
Acts 17 is an interesting chapter as it describes the unknown God to the Greeks in Athens, In verse 28 we read: "For in him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain also of your own poets have said, For we are also his offspring."(KJV). It is important to note that our focus is on God, not on our circumstances. When we focus on him, and not on ourselves we do get a better perspective on things. In I Thessalonians 5:16-18 (KJV) we see that we should "Rejoice evermore. Pray without ceasing. In every thing give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you." I can rejoice when my focus is on God. I may not understand why or what he's doing right now, but I don't need to. Yes, I can pray, and we should be in a prayerful state 24/7 as we thank God that he is in control.
I Timothy 6:17-19(KJV) does cement the principles that we should live by when it says: "Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not high minded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy; That they do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to communicate; Laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life." Well, you're probably wondering what to do right now, and maybe be thinking that there are many examples of people in government and other industries that are really acting high minded. It is, however, a good benchmark for us to use the resources we do have. We too can be high minded, while we trust in sources that we see are now gone. We need to trust God. He is the One that gives us all things.
Gratitude is an expression that overflows onto the people around us. Doing good for others, and using the gifts God gave you is a great reflection of God's love. It builds on the strong foundation that we have in Christ Jesus.
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