Tag: Gratitude

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But He Does Anyway

Daily Reading

Numbers 18-20

Daily Thought

God delivered the Hebrews from slavery in Egypt and all they’ve done is grumble and complain, sin and rebel. Now they are whining again. They are thirsty, there is no water for the congregation, and they assembled themselves together against Moses and against Aaron. “Would that we had perished when our brothers perished before the Lord! Why have you brought the assembly of the Lord into this wilderness, that we should die here, both we and our cattle? And why have you made us come up out of Egypt to bring us to this evil place? It is no place for grain or figs or vines or pomegranates, and there is no water to drink” (Numbers 20:2-5).

After all that God has done, more complaining? Moses challenges the accusers, “Hear now, you rebels: must we bring water for you out of this rock?”  The answer is, No! But he does anyway.

You would think we would learn, but we don’t, and the grumbling and complaining, sinning and rebelling continue. Fifteen hundred years later, Jesus is in a garden. “My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me” (Matthew 26:39). A legitimate question, must Jesus drink the cup that contains the wrath our sins deserve? No. But he does anyway.

I get on my knees after years of grumbling and complaining, sinning and rebelling, and at last I plead, “Jesus, save me.” Must he? No, but he does anyway. “For by grace you have been saved” (Ephesians 2:8).

When God has given me his grace, why do I still grumble?

Daily Prayer

Loving God, You show me your love in Your grace. I do not deserve it, I do not desire it even, and I certainly do not seek it. And then You die for me anyway. You take my sins on Yourself, you pay the price of justification, and You share Your righteousness with me. You adopt me as Your child, and I am co-heir alongside Your Son.

How can I possibly not love You? I love because You first loved me. 

Amen

Daily Question

How do you give gratitude a bigger role in your personality?

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Superman

Daily Reading

Proverbs 27-29

Daily Thought

Mohammed Ali was seated in an airplane and the flight attendant asked him to put on his seatbelt. “Superman don’t need no seatbelt,” said Ali. “Superman don’t need no plane,” responded the attendant. The apostle Paul instructed everyone not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think (Romans 12:3). Mohammed Ali ain’t Superman. “Think with sober judgment,” wrote Paul. Think rightly. 

Let another praise you, and not your own mouth;
a stranger, and not your own lips. ~Proverbs 27:2

It is okay to accept praise. In fact, it is wonderful–from the lips of others, not your own.

A friend once approached a singer after a service, complimenting him on his solo, but he refused to allow it. “Oh no,” he protested, “it was all God, not me,” to which my friend replied, “Surprising, I think God would have reached the high notes.” 

That was mean, I thought, but I reconsidered. Yes, it was rude, but he had a point. Why did he not simply say “thank you”? It was not God singing, it was him. Certainly, when you are praised, it is okay to acknowledge the partnership you have with God. God asks, “Who will?”; you say, “I will.” He gives you talents and gifts, you develop them. Someone says, “Good job”; you respond, “Thank you.”

The crucible is for silver, and the furnace is for gold,
and a man is tested by his praise. ~Proverbs 27:21

How we handle praise tests our character as much as how we handle criticism.

Daily Prayer

My God, the silliest notion I have is that I am good enough on my own; that when all is said and done, I can inventory my life and say, “Open the gates of heaven and let me in.” I need You to save me, and You did. I now live because of You and for You, and I commit to throw off everything that distracts or gets in the way.

Keep my heart open to Your glory. Help me do what is right, what is good. May my life and my ego reflect Your glory and point others to Your grace.

Amen

Daily Question

When was the last time you were praised for something? How did it make you feel?

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Gratitude

Daily Reading

Psalm 70-73

Daily Thought

We’re almost halfway through the 150 psalms, and what if, at this point, we just stopped and praised God. 

God is great. “May all who seek you rejoice and be glad in you! May those who love your salvation say evermore, ‘God is great!’” (Psalm 70:4).

God is good. “My mouth will tell of your righteous acts, of your deeds of salvation all the day, for their number is past my knowledge. With the mighty deeds of the Lord God I will come; I will remind them of your righteousness, yours alone. Truly God is good to Israel, to those who are pure in heart.” (Psalm 71:15-16; 73:1).

God is in charge. “May he have dominion from sea to sea, and from the River to the ends of the earth! May desert tribes bow down before him, and his enemies lick the dust! May the kings of Tarshish and of the coastlands render him tribute; may the kings of Sheba and Seba bring gifts! May all kings fall down before him, all nations serve him!” (Psalm 72:8-11).

God is not done. “For you, O Lord, are my hope, my trust, O Lord, from my youth. Upon you I have leaned from before my birth; you are he who took me from my mother’s womb. My praise is continually of you. O God, from my youth you have taught me, and I still proclaim your wondrous deeds. So even to old age and gray hairs, O God, do not forsake me, until I proclaim your might to another generation, your power to all those to come” (Psalm 71:5-6, 17-18).

What if, today, we were just grateful for everything? 

“Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel,
who alone does wondrous things.
Blessed be his glorious name forever;
may the whole earth be filled with his glory!
Amen and Amen!Amen and Amen!” ~Psalm 72:18-19

Daily Prayer

My God, You are my rock, my fortress, my shelter, my strength, an ever present help in times of trouble, the joy of my salvation. There is nothing today that can rob the treasure of eternity.

May I live in constant praise with a heart of peace and contentment at rest in Your hands. You are my God; my faith, my hope, and my love are in You.

Amen

Daily Question

What happens to you when you are grateful?

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All of Me

Daily Reading

Psalm 46-50

Daily Thought

In Psalm 50, God says he wants everything because he wants nothing. He wants your sacrifice because he doesn’t need your sacrifice. This makes no sense; or it makes all the sense in the world if you understand that religion and worship are not the same thing.

Israel is religious, yet God judges them, “Not for your sacrifices do I rebuke you; your burnt offerings are continually before me” (Psalm 50:8). Okay, you are religious, says God. Let’s examine your religion. Your religion is a formula: give God what he wants and he will give you what you want. You are using God to serve yourself. But, “every beast of the forest is mine, the cattle on a thousand hills,” says God. “I know all the birds of the hills, and all that moves in the field is mine” (Psalm 50:10-11). God doesn’t need anything. Your religious formula doesn’t work. Now what?

Now you can worship. You can give God everything because he needs nothing, and, therefore, you can trust him fully. What are you giving him that is not his already? Your gratitude. Your praise. Yourself, and that is worship.

“Offer to God a sacrifice of thanksgiving, and perform your vows to the Most High, and call upon me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you shall glorify me.” ~Psalm 50:14-15

Daily Prayer

Father in Heaven, The world is Yours, and all that is in it. You are the source of every good and every blessing, and my greatest blessing is I am Your child. You have adopted me back into Your family by making me righteous again through the saving work of Your Son. You call it grace. I call it good news.

You have given me everything, God. I give it all back. It’s yours, all of me. Now tell me what to do!

Amen

Daily Question

How do you show God you are thankful for all he has done for you?