Saturday, February 11, 2012

Six Weeks

That’s how long I’ve been recording things in my journal.  Six whole weeks.  I never actually thought I’d manage that.  Really.  I’ve never written more than a few days at a time in a journal.  Never regularly recorded anything.  But for six weeks I have written down 1-7 different things from that day that I am thankful for.  That makes 168 separate ways God has shown His graciousness to me and others.  Some entries are similar, but not one is identical to another.

Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday, are the easiest days now.  Sonday and Monday don’t have enough entries and Friday and Saturday are still more difficult but I hope that before the next six weeks have passed to find that those are the best days.

Yet for all that, I don’t want this record to become mere habit.  A habit, yes, but not just a habit.  I want it to be instinctual to look for God’s hand in daily life but I don’t want to write things down simply because that’s what I always do.  I want this exercise to be part of my heart, not just my head.

Some days, I find myself recording things that are not blessings to me specifically, but to others.  Things that have happened that have encouraged others.  It makes me more aware of others, this being thankful for God’s blessing on them.  And that is something that we should be counting on.  “Rejoice with those who rejoice” we are told in Romans, so I shall.  I don’t think I’d ever taken the time to consider blessings on others as something to thank God for.  At least not the “little” blessings.  “Big” blessings, like a new baby, or recovery from illness—those are easily remembered.  But the “little” ones, like feeling useful when planning an event or getting off from work sooner than expected—I hadn’t thought to thank God on someone else’s behalf for such things.

The “little” versus “big” things has been something I’ve been more aware of too.  We—I—don’t mind thanking God for the “big” things, as it were.  But I forget about the “little” things.  The “daily bread” as it were.  A life full of gratefulness goes beyond rejoicing over a significant gift.  It is recognizing and acting as though each and everything that happens during the day—indeed the day itself!—is a grand gift.

Because it is.

We don’t deserve anything but death and destruction.  Those who ask how God could possibly be good when there is so much evil in the world fail to consider that if God were not good, then the very fact that good things happen should be what is marveled at, not the presence of evil. 

The Great God of the universe gave us life.  We betrayed Him. 

He gave us hope in the stories of a kingdom where we would be with Him again.  We ignored it.

He gave us Love in the form of His only begotten Son.  We killed Him.

And yet He raised His Son and turned again and offered us life and hope and love.

Day by day, He reaches out and plucks people from the depths of sin, be it that which even the world considers depraved or the deceitful traps of pride and sloth.  Day by day, He restrains His righteous wrath and indignation and withholds justice on those who defy Him, showing instead mercy, grace, and kindness.  Day by day, we are not destroyed but are given the wonder of creation, the joy of human affection, and the chance to honor the true Gift-Giver for His bounty.  Day by day, the world turns its back on God and even we, His children, neglect to give Him the honor due His name.

We have been given great gifts.  Jesus Christ.  Salvation.  Sanctification.  Creation.  Eternal Hope.  Unfailing Love.  Abundant Grace.  Rich Mercy.  Full Joy.  True Peace.

Let us not waste them or take them for granted.

To the King of Grace, the Living Hope, be thanks and honor and glory forever from my heart and mouth.

1 comment:

  1. I wish you had been at study this week!! This is exactly what we talked about--all the things that we have been given in Christ. It was such an encouragement!! It's so good to remember His goodness and mercy, to recall to mind all that He has done for us. : )

    ReplyDelete