i have realized in this time of challenge that i have lived much of my life looking ahead to something better than my current situation; however, in ephesians God commands us to give thanks for everything. i truly cannot be giving thanks for everything if i am longing for this day to rush past or looking forward to a particular season to pass quicker than it is. at best i am tolerating...but God does not wanting a heart of tolerance, he commands a heart of thanks in all things.
in the book of john, Jesus has a crowd of 5,000 in front of him and he asks phillip where they might be able to purchase some bread to feed the mass of people. phillip replies pessimistically that it would take eight months wages to purchase enough bread for each person to have a bite...one bite! another disciple said he found a boy with some fish and bread. Jesus takes the two small fish and five loves of bread and gives thanks. He then shares the meal with the crowd, allowing each person to have as much as he desired. once everyone was satisfied, Jesus had the disciples gather the leftovers so nothing was wasted.
i loved this story as a child because it seemed like a magic act...Jesus waved his magic wand and said the magical words and BOOM, there was enough for everyone and then some! over the years, i have become hardened to the "magic" in the story. i have come before the Lord countless times asking for change...asking for renewal...asking for relief. somewhere along my"adult" path, i have completely lost sight of the magic...His magic. yes, i want my husband to be healed-i want my brown eyed boy to have a gentle, quiet spirit {not just when he is asleep}, i want our businesses to have positive cashflow...but that isn't what God wants my heart to be full of. He simply wants my thanks. He wants me to see Him in the midst of our struggles. He desires for me to sit smack dab in the middle of my life-right here today-and tell Him thanks just as Jesus did with the two fish and five loaves of bread. Jesus embraced what seemed like not enough and gave thanks...God magically made more than enough for the crowd. it is the expression of thanksgiving that created the abundance...not a prayer of change.
today, God...i have enough and am thankful.
I really have never meet anyone who is truly living in gratitude if they have not experienced some sort of trial/trials in their life. Often, they keep on coming! You are so right that God does put us right where he wants us regardless if we think it is best for us! For He knows what lies ahead....and that is what keeps us going holding on to those promises. It is all good with God in control! The saying - " Let go and let God" is easier said than done but we keep on trying, right? We are human and this is life 2011. You are doing so well my friend.
ReplyDeletePrayers & Love~