Simply Grateful
I love the holiday called Thanksgiving that we celebrate here in the United States. It’s a time to reflect and give thanks. It’s a time to push pause on our busy lives and give thanks for all the blessings that are ours. When I count my blessings, it’s really a matter of perspective and balance. I’ve learned in my life that my needs are covered and even some of my wishes and wants. There have been times when I went crazy buying stuff that I didn’t really need, but I thought it might just impress others. As I take time to reflect, I’m grateful to the Lord using others to teach me to manage my finances and bring my wants and wishes under control. I’ve always been fairly simple, but now even more so, I want to live simple so that the Lord can use me abundantly.
David learned a lot about God in his struggles. He trusted the Lord when he was afraid. He trusted he Lord when he was a fugitive and running for his life. The really cool thing about the Lord is His Presence in every situation and circumstance. He has been there when I made a mess of my life. He has been there when things happened to me that were beyond my control. His Presence is constant and with His Presence He brings peace. He brings grace. He brings mercy. He brings direction. Check this out….
1 I cry out to the Lord;
I plead for the Lord’s mercy.
2 I pour out my complaints before him
and tell him all my troubles.
3 When I am overwhelmed,
you alone know the way I should turn.
5 Then I pray to you, O Lord.
I say, “You are my place of refuge.
You are all I really want in life.
6 Hear my cry,
for I am very low.
Rescue me from my persecutors,
for they are too strong for me. (Psalm 142:1-3b, 5-6 NLT)
I really believe that gratitude inside my heart will literally change every part of my life. My gratitude acknowledges the Power & Presence of the Lord. I can remain calm even my life is crumbling around me. I can remain calm when I get bad news from the doctor. I can remain calm when the market throws me a curve ball. I simply trust in the Lord in every situation and every circumstance.
He will rescue me. He will be with me. He NEVER leaves me.
In the midst of writing this my daughter “face-timed” with me and told me of a friend whose daughter died in a car accident late yesterday. This emotion and sick feeling in my stomach for my friend. I would pray that I can have gratitude in my heart regardless of the pain of my situation. When I’m hurt, I cry out to the Lord for help. I lean into Him no matter what I’m facing. Gratitude is a positioning of my heart. I trust Him with my life and all that is my life here on earth. I want to be simply grateful for His Presence in me and for life with Him.
Pressing On!
Dwayne