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Posts Tagged ‘Gratitude’

Six Ways to Add EXCITEMENT to Your Life!

Posted in Appreciation, Encouragement, God's Goodness, Joy, Prayer, Thanksgiving, Uncategorized, tagged , , , , , , , , on August 21, 2025| 30 Comments »

Sometimes life can become little more than a repetitive rhythm of responsibilities and commitments. If we’re not careful, the day-to-day routine furrows a rut of monotony and dissatisfaction.

In addition, it may not be feasible to make the changes we dream of: a new job, a move across the country, pursuit of an exciting pastime like paragliding, vacations in exotic locations, or other adventuresome options.

We have kids. Others are counting on us. We don’t have the resources or time.

Does that mean we’re chained to tedium for the foreseeable future? Not at all.

Listed below are six ways (out of many) to spark excitement in our spirits: 

Make Others Smile–and Even Laugh

In fact, Jesus taught that providing benefit to others is actually a greater blessing to the giver than the receiver [1]. Surely that principle applies to smiles and laughter also.

I wonder how many smiles and chuckles we can cause today?

Celebrate the Small

Enjoy the little things, for one day you may look back and realize they were the big things.

Kurt Vonnegut

Sometimes we have to be proactive and stir up a little excitement—make a big deal out of something small, such as:

  • Celebrate the achievement of a family member. Did one of the children (grandchildren, nieces or nephews) earn an award, make the honor roll, successfully complete a project, or finish his first chapter book? Commemorate the occasion with the honoree’s favorite main dish for dinner, create a song or present a speech; include plenty of applause.
  • Research an interesting historical event that happened on an upcoming date. Have the kids plan a dinner celebration in honor of the anniversary. They might create table decorations, a reenactment or presentation, a quiz to stump the parents [2].
  • Try something new—a restaurant, park, museum, or activity. Explore another neighborhood or town nearby.

Afterwards, add a prayer of thanksgiving, and you’ll find such experiences enhanced even further.

Be Curious and Pursue Discovery . . .

. . . in creation, in knowledge, in the backstory of people you know, and especially in scripture.

Blessed are the curious for they shall have adventures.

Lovelle Drachman

It’s exhilarating to discover something new, don’t you think?

Equally delightful is the realization that no matter how long we live, how much we read, how many people we get to know, how much time we spend studying scripture, there will always be more to discover.

I find that exciting!

Encourage Others

How exciting is that?

Speak Gratitude and Praise

Write down the blessings of one day. We might begin; we could never end; there are not pens or paper enough in all the world.

George A. Buttrick

No doubt, such a list would foster excitement in our hearts—for a God of goodness, compassion, generosity and power, who provides enumerable blessings each day.

Pray about Everything . . .

. . . and enjoy the thrill God has ordained, allowing us to be a part of his healings, provisions, guidance for decisions and more.

Now review the headings above and note:

Finding adventure in everyday life is not about grand gestures, but about seeing the extraordinary in the ordinary.

John Claborn [3]

Finding adventure . . . seeing the extraordinary in the ordinary . . . sounds like an exciting pursuit, don’t you think?

What sparks excitement for you? What strategy might you try next? Please share in the comment section below!

____________________

[1] Acts 20:35

[2] See https://www.ducksters.com/todayinhistory.php, a resource for possibilities to celebrate.

[3] https://theruggedface.com/finding-adventure-in-everyday-life/

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January Joy . . . and Beyond

Posted in Appreciation, Blessings, Encouragement, God's Goodness, Jesus, Joy, Obedience, Praise, Renewing the Mind, Thanksgiving, Uncategorized, tagged , , , , , , , , on January 2, 2025| 45 Comments »

Joy is a word seen frequently during the Christmas season–on cards, ornaments and even fence gates.

But holiday-pleasure based on Santa, gifting, and parties, quickly disappears with the decorations and Christmas cookies.

Where do we find January-Joy that will carry us through the new year and even beyond?

First, we have to understand: true joy is more than feel-good endorphins.

To some that sounds ridiculous. Acquiescence sounds like distasteful servitude. And what possible delight can a person find in Someone we can’t see or hear?

Little do they know the depth of joy Jesus offers us (John 15:11).

We are half-hearted creatures, fooling about with drink and sex

and ambition when infinite joy is offered us, like an ignorant child

who wants to go on making mud pies in a slum because he cannot

imagine what is meant by the offer of a holiday at the sea.

—C. S. Lewis, The Weight of Glory

Little do many people understand:

This deep sea of joy is made available to us as we obey God–another reality that makes some bristle. They don’t realize when Christ tells us to follow God’s ways, he’s not trying to make our lives miserable. He’s showing us the way to enjoy abundance of life (John 15:9-11; John 10:10)!

Anything God commands of us is so that our joy may be full.

—Beth Moore, quoted in Values for Life

Scripture presents a number of principles that contribute to our fullness of joy, including:

POSITIVITY (Philippians 4:4)

GRATITUDE (Psalm 126:3)

 It’s not happiness that makes us grateful,

it’s gratefulness that makes us happy.

–Brother David Steindl-Rast

We just have to turn up our joy detectors,

notice, and give credit to the God who provided them.

—Deana Chadwell, When I’m in His Presence

MINDFULNESS (Psalm 89:15-16)

(How else might we make space for joy? That’s a question worth contemplating!)

GENEROSITY OF JOY (Acts 20:35)

In spreading my joy, God restored ME. MY JOY WAS FULL! . . .

As we pour out ourselves for others, we ourselves are renewed.

—Barbara Johnson, Pack Up Your Gloomies in a Great Big Box

Also worth remembering:

Empathy (Romans 12:15a)

Joy happens as we enter into the joys of others. The meek get

the most value out of others because they enter in the joys

of others. Not being envious, they rejoice in the successes of

others. Thus they live expansively, multiplying their own lives

in the careers around them.

—Ralph W. Sockman, The Higher Happiness

And what happens to those who focus on all things beautiful, good, and true—no matter how small—and thank God for them?

What happens to those who discover the joys of the here and now—no matter their circumstances–and praise God for them?

“They are the change agents who bring fullest Light [and JOY] to all the world.”*

JOY to the world! For January–beyond.

Now there’s an objective to embrace for 2025.

* Ann Voskamp, One Thousand Gifts, 58.

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Giving Gratitude a Boost

Posted in Appreciation, Blessings, Encouragement, God's Faithfulness, God's Goodness, Meditation, Thanksgiving, Uncategorized, tagged , , , on November 28, 2024| 26 Comments »

We know that gratitude provides benefits–mentally, spiritually, and even physically.

We desire to become more thankful, to weave the attitude through the hours of each day.

But how?

Author Lysa Terkeurst provides this model:

Note the particular benefits she highlights: heightened awareness of God’s presence, and experiencing his powerful peace–each one well worth the effort of developing the habit of gratitude, yes?

So look around you in this moment. What can you be grateful for?

Let it be a reminder that God is with you, lavishing you with his love, faithfulness, and compassion.

Think on that knowledge, note the peace enveloping your heart, and enjoy a very happy day of Thanksgiving–today and always!

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Jump for Joy!

Posted in Appreciation, Blessings, Encouragement, God's Faithfulness, God's Goodness, God's Love, God's Protection, God's Provision, Joy, Praise, Thanksgiving, Uncategorized, tagged , , , , , , , , , , on November 14, 2024| 29 Comments »

The heading promised: “Expert Tips for Creating a Gratitude List.”

But nowhere did the writer suggest who we’re supposed to thank. And that omission raises an important question: Can gratitude provide any value if there’s no one to receive it?

On the other hand, giving thanks and praise to God lifts our spirits as we review his unfailing love for us, expressed in countless ways.

Imagine King David’s euphoria as he wrote:

In Psalm 31, David included these five inspiring truths: our God is faithful (5), loving (7, 16, 21), good (19), merciful (22) and protective (23).

And as I considered theses scriptures, my thoughts turned to examples in our family’s lives when we’ve seen these attributes in action. For example:

God is faithful (Psalm 31:5) and shows us the wonders of his love (21).

Our son Eric needed slides of his paintings for a college application. However, several days of overcast skies made it impossible to sufficiently light his work and show it to best advantage. 

The deadline was fast approaching, and four paintings still hadn’t been photographed.

Eric decided he’d have do his best with the light available. But as he finished setting up and adjusting the painting on his easel, the sun came out! Three more times, just as he finished positioning, the clouds parted and the sun shone!

God stores up abundant good things for those who honor and trust him (Psalm 31:19).

Our family has experienced an abundance of good things—sometimes in miraculous ways (like provision for employment through an astonishing string of God-incidences [1]), and sometimes in smaller-but-no-less-startling events, like the one described above.

I’ve recorded hundreds of such moments in a notebook-journal kept since 1983 (as many of you regular readers know). Entry after entry proves our God is abundantly good and ever faithful [2].

We need not fear that we shall ever

come to the end of God’s goodness,

or any experience for which

He will have no blessing ready.

–J. R. Miller [3]

God hears my cries for mercy when I call to him for help, and he protects the faithful (Psalm 31:22, 23).

Years ago before GPS, I became hopelessly lost on a lonely, tree-lined road. To make matters worse, the gas tank was approaching empty, and I was going to be late for an appointment.

In near-panic mode I prayed, LORD HELP ME!, and tried to calm my racing heart by affirming that God would not fail me nor abandon me (Hebrews 13:5b NLT).

Suddenly a three-way stop appeared. I looked left to see a gas station about fifty yards down the road, almost hidden by the trees.

I turned the corner—into the 1950s. The style of the building and peeling paint indicated the age of the station; the pumps were just as old.

More alarm ensued as I studied one of the ancient pumps. What do I do with THIS?

And then an older gentleman approached (an angel, perhaps?) and kindly offered, “I’ll pump that for you.” He also directed me where I needed to be, and I arrived at my appointment just a few minutes late.

I could share SO many more examples. But it’s not just our family that’s experienced God’s goodness, faithfulness and love. All of us have stories to tell of God working wonders in our lives.

May we be quick to give him the thanks he deserves, and with King David, experience the euphoria of gratitude and praise that makes us leap for joy!

Now it’s your turn. In the comment section below, please share one of your stories that makes you leap for joy in what God accomplished!

[1] See https://nancyaruegg.com/2020/08/27/after-the-fact-2

[2] See https://nancyaruegg.com/2012/11/12/proving-gods-presence for how this journal came to be.

[3] Quoted by Herbert Lockyer, Seasons of the Lord, 199.

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Grow That Glow!

Posted in Appreciation, Bible Study, Blessings, Encouragement, Faith, God's Goodness, Joy, Thanksgiving, Uncategorized, tagged , , , , , , , , on November 7, 2024| 32 Comments »

Surely you’ve met them—those glowing saints whose eyes always twinkle, smiles always dazzle, and whose faith and attitude always inspire.  We’re left wondering, how did they grow that glow?

No doubt it begins with strong trust in Christ, cultivated by scripture-study and prayer. They apply what they’ve learned about:

  • Giving all their concerns to God, knowing he truly cares
  • Focusing on the positive, the joyful, the beautiful
  • The pleasure of giving such gifts as time, encouragement, and a listening ear
  • Practicing God’s presence to experience his peace, strength, and more [1]

But researcher Michael Zigarelli discovered another reason why godly saints radiate joy: gratitude. He found that expressing continual gratitude to God actually energizes the practice of other spiritual disciplines, and altogether they contribute to growing that saintly glow [2].

Insightful author, Ann Voskamp concurs:

“The brave who focus on all things good and all things beautiful and all things true, even in the small, who give thanks for it and discover joy even in the here and now, they are the change agents who bring fullest Light to all the world” [3].

In addition, author and theologian Warren Wiersbe would have us know:

“That’s all fine and good,” someone might say. “But right now I see very little to be thankful for. We’ve had one financial setback after another, my job is more stressful than ever, our son is having a hard time in school, and my brother and sister-in-law just announced they’re separating. ‘See what I mean?”

Yes, we do. Some seasons of life include multiple troubles all at once.

But take note of this good news: simply expressing thankfulness (even if we don’t feel grateful) has been proven to create positive change in our brain chemistry [4].

And we find: continual gratitude contributes to a sense of WELL-BEING.

Another surprise?

Continual gratitude provides HEALING for the wounds of distress [5] —especially appreciation for who our Savior God is and what he has done.

Think of it: He created all things! He sustains all things! He has supremacy over all things! He is our Emmanuel (God with us), our Good Shepherd, our Wonderful Counselor, and so much more [6]!

God hears us as we pray, loves us with an everlasting love, empowers us through the Holy Spirit, fills us with hope, and anchors us through the storms of life [7]. 

And as we cultivate continual gratitude for such realities, we find PEACE.

The truly thankful person

is a truly peaceful person.

—Lysa TerKeurst [8].

It makes sense. The more we thank God for all the benefits he bestows, the firmer our faith-stance in his competence to sustain us.

Third, continual gratitude cultivates JOY.

Turn [your] eyes toward Jesus and everything shines—

even the tough spots morph into excitement. . .

How is he going to solve my problem this time? . . .

When I am consciously aware of him,

life fills with wonder and wonder brings joy [9].

What better way to remain aware of God and expand joy-inducing wonder than with gratitude?

Last, continual gratitude “lays out planks of TRUST” [10].

Think of all the moments he’s been faithful, when:

  • an impossible situation worked out amazingly well
  • a potentially difficult conversation turned out to be restorative and beneficial
  • an inspired idea came to mind that cleverly solved a problem
  • a surprising bargain materialized, supplying a current need
  • a string of just-so-happened circumstances provided the answer to a prayer

Yes, some will call these coincidences. Around here we call them God-incidences, because “whatever is good and perfect is a gift coming down to us from God our Father” [11].

And every time we acknowledge such gifts of provision, protection, and guidance, we lay another plank of trust, constructing a strong bridge of faith from yesterday into tomorrow [12].

Now we know. Each of us can grow a glow as we embrace the power of gratitude.

And isn’t November—with Thanksgiving just a few weeks away—the perfect month to grow that glow a little bit brighter?

[1] 1 Peter 5:7; Philippians 4:8; Acts 20:35; Isaiah 26:3 NLT

[2] https://godsmissionarychurch.org/2018/10/26/growing-through-thankfulness/

[3] One Thousand Gifts, 58.

[4] https://www.focustsoul.com/blog/signs-of-maturity-in-christ-part-1-gratitude-and-joy

[5] https://cct.biola.edu/spirituality-suffering-gratitude/, emphasis added

[6] Colossians 1:15-20; Matthew 1:23; John 10:14; Isaiah 9:6

[7]  1 Peter 3:12; Jeremiah 31:3; 2 Timothy 1:7; Romans 15:13; Hebrews 6:19

[8] Embraced, 256.

[9] Deanna Chadwell, Soul Bare, 82-84.

[10] Ann Voskamp, One Thousand Gifts, 151.

[11] James 1:17 NLT

[12] Voskamp, 152.

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Choose Your Weapons!

Posted in Appreciation, Blessings, Encouragement, God's Faithfulness, God's Goodness, God's Presence, Praise, Uncategorized, tagged , , , , , , on January 11, 2024| 49 Comments »

More than likely you’ve never seen the item pictured above. At first glance, you might think it’s a noisemaker used in primitive worship ceremonies. Others might say it looks like a musical instrument or the paddle for some game.

In actuality, it’s a model of an ancient Aztec weapon, a macuahuitl (MAC-wah-wick).

Strange-looking, isn’t it?  How could a wooden paddle be deadly enough for warfare? The key lies in those black protrusions on the sides. They were made from obsidian and filed razor sharp, capable of creating gaping slash wounds.

Here’s another strange-looking weapon. They remind me of the jacks some of us played with as children. These are called caltrops, with each spike measuring 2 1/2-to-3 inches.

Caltrops were designed so that, when thrown on the ground, one point would always land facing up.

Spread hundreds of these around your camp at night, and protect your soldiers while they rest. Or hide them in the area before the opposing army approaches, and cause crippling injury to many men and beasts as they charge.

But why all this talk about ancient weapons?

In the spiritual battles of life, we too have at least two strange-but-effective weapons at our disposal.

At first glance, they might appear useless against our adversary Satan. But these weapons have the power to defeat his minions of discouragement, disappointment, envy, frustration, and more.

The first weapon is gratitude. Yes, just uncomplicated gratitude.

For example, consider each of the negative emotions named above and how gratitude might incapacitate them:

  • When discouraged by lack of recognition at work, I can be thankful God sees.
  • When dissatisfied with my paycheck, I can be thankful that God will provide.
  • When disappointed by my child’s behavior, I can be thankful for the life-lessons taught through consequences that will benefit him in the future.
  • When envious over the lovely new house of an acquaintance, I can be thankful for our low mortgage, friendly neighbors, and the memories that have turned our house into a home.
  • When frustrated by a day of one-step-forward-and-two-steps-back, I can thank God for the strength and patience to see me through [1].

And as we wield our weapon of gratitude we’ll discover: “The truly thankful person is a truly peaceful person” [2].

The second strange-looking weapon against negativity is contentment.

But how do we manufacture deep-down satisfaction when life is full of difficulty and stress?

Luci Swindoll suggests: “Consider who you are and be satisfied with that. Consider what you have and be satisfied with that. Consider what God is doing and be satisfied with that” [3].

One way to employ contentment is to meditate on one of the praise psalms, like Psalm 103 or 145. While reading each verse, consider what it says about who you are, what you have, and what God is doing. Brandish your discoveries in the face of the enemy of your soul.

Even one simple statement can generate a whole journal of responses. For example:

In this moment, consider:

  • What goodness do you see, hear, taste, smell, or feel (externally and internally)? Praise God for these gifts [4]. 
  • What recent events have brought you joy? Praise God for engineering those events.
  • Who has blessed you lately? Praise God for these people.
  • What are you looking forward to? What hopes do you have for the future? Praise God that, because of his unfailing love and faithfulness, we always have hope (Lamentations 3:21-23).
  • What evidence of God’s thrilling presence have you noted? Praise him for revealing himself in so many different ways [5].

Perhaps a thick fog of trouble makes it difficult to see much goodness. British writer and scholar Alexander Smellie (1857-1923) would have us affirm:

“The Lord knows what is best for me, and my surroundings are determined by Him. Wherever He places me, He does so to strengthen my faith and power, and to draw me into closer communion with Himself. And even if confined to a dungeon, my soul will prosper.”

Those are fighting words of contentment we can take into battle, my friends!

[1] Job 28:24; Philippians 4:19; Hebrews 12:11; Habakkuk 3:17-19; Philippians 4:13

[2] Lysa Terkheurst, Embraced, 256.

[3] Joy Breaks, 79.

[4] A previous post Mindfulness PLUS may prompt your thoughts.

[5] Another post Heart-to-Heart offers examples.

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A Marvelous Way to Live

Posted in Thanksgiving, Uncategorized, tagged , , , on November 23, 2023| 44 Comments »

http://www.quotefancy.com

Happy Thanksgiving, my dear readers!

In honor of this joyful holiday centered on gratitude I’ve collected some favorite quotes on the subject. Perhaps you’ll find one or two to your liking also.

Why is gratitude an important?

If gratitude is due from children to their earthly parent, how much more is the gratitude of the great family of men due to our Father in heaven?—Hosea Baliou

A spirit of thankfulness is one of the most distinctive marks of a Christian whose heart is attuned to the Lord—Billy Graham.

The best way to take off the tendency to complain is to put on thankfulness. Each day we must actively choose to see what God has provided—Melissa B. Krueger, The Envy of Eve, 134.

What happens as a result of gratitude?

It’s not the happy person who is thankful but the thankful person who is happy—Anonymous.

We would worry less if we praised more. Thanksgiving is the enemy of discontent and dissatisfaction—Harry Ironside.

The truly thankful person is a truly peaceful person—Lysa TerKeurst, Embraced, 256.

How do we cultivate gratitude?

The key to thankfulness is not to view God through the lens of our circumstances, but to view our circumstances through the lens of God’s love and sovereign purpose—Anne Graham Lotz.

Thank people who bless you in even the smallest ways. It will complete your enjoyment of the blessing, and it will increase your capacity to thank God—Alexander Whyte.

Habits of a grateful person: Notice, Pause, Choose. Notice something for which to be thankful no matter your circumstance. Pause to acknowledge this something as a reminder of God’s presence. Choose to focus on God’s presence until His powerful peace is unleashed—Lysa TerKeurst, Embraced, 256-257.

What might a life of gratitude look like?

You say grace before meals. All right. But I say grace before the concert and the opera, and grace before the play and pantomime, and grace before I open a book, and grace before sketching, painting, swimming, fencing, boxing, walking, playing, dancing and grace before I dip the pen in the ink—G. K. Chesterton.

That sounds like a marvelous way to live, doesn’t it?

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Overflowing

Posted in Appreciation, Blessings, Encouragement, God's Goodness, Thanksgiving, Uncategorized, tagged , , on November 17, 2022| 45 Comments »

Take a walk over wooded hills and chances are you’ll encounter a spring-fed, babbling brook, tumbling over rocks and ever-flowing to its mouth.

Just the sound of it refreshes the soul.

Perhaps in his travels, the Apostle Paul encountered spring-fed brooks, and God brought them to his mind as inspiration for this instruction:

Let your living spill over into thanksgiving.

–Colossians 2:7c MSG

Such a lovely image of refreshing, ever-flowing gratitude.

Paul urged his readers to be thankful seven times in the four chapters of Colossians, and forty more times in his other epistles.

Now why would God inspire Paul to encourage gratitude so often?

Surely God wanted us to discover that when we seek to be thankful, we find our trust growing. Look at all these wonderful ways God is blessing and investing in my life, we begin to realize. He IS a good and loving Father; I CAN depend on him!

Perhaps Paul himself had learned: the more we thank, the more we see to be thankful for.

“The grumbler undoubtedly sees few blessings;

The grateful person finds blessings everywhere.

In fact, blessings seem to find her.

J. E. Yoder (1)

I also like Warren Wiersbe’s reason for cultivating gratitude: “When a believer is abounding in thanksgiving, he is really making progress!”

Surely this was one of Paul’s strong desires—that all Jesus-followers make progress toward becoming all that God intends them to be.

But gratitude doesn’t always come easy. Sometimes we’re more likely to be overwhelmed by our worries than overflowing with thankfulness. Or we’d rather talk about our woes in order to gain sympathy than share our blessings in order to encourage.

So how do we open the channels of our hearts to let gratitude flow?

We might begin with a daily (perhaps hourly ) habit of giving thanks for the benefits we enjoy—no matter what our circumstances—even if the family is in turmoil, or friends have proved unfriendly, or trouble has dropped in our laps.

As noted, ever-flowing gratitude refreshes the soul.  

Perhaps we could begin with these five blessings:

  • The indescribable gift of Christ and all he offers
  • Rescue from the powers of darkness
  • God’s glorious attributes at work in our lives—his goodness, grace, compassion, and more
  • The precious, life-changing truths of scripture
  • God’s constant presence with us (2)

Of course there are many more. We’d do well to keep a written list of such ever-present blessings, ready to refer to when the flow of our gratitude is blocked by disappointment or discouragement.

And at the top of the list we might copy this wonderful reassurance:

There is always good because there is always God . . .

Even when nothing else around us is good,

his presence in the midst of our deepest pain

is a good gift indeed.

Aliza Latta (3)

Picture a glass of water so full it will not hold another drop. Now what if you bump against it? The water is bound to spill over. Similarly, when trouble bumps against us, what’s inside will overflow.

Out of an angry person will come anger, out of a fearful person will come fear, out of a self-centered person will come self-pity. (I have been all three of these people at one time or other!)

But a grateful person? He/she overflows with gratitude, cheering and soothing the soul like a babbling brook. In addition, their trust in God grows and greater maturity develops. Best of all, their thankfulness delights God.

As the Lord loveth a cheerful giver,

So likewise a cheerful thanksgiver.

John Boys (4)

*     *     *     *     *     *     *     *     *     *

O Father, keep me mindful that no matter what I face, there are ALWAYS reasons to rejoice. I don’t want to give in to anger, fear, or self-pity. I want my living to spill over into thanksgiving—a superior way to spend my days and bring you glory as well.

Notes:

  1. Our Daily Bread
  2. 2 Corinthians 9:15; Colossians 1:13; Psalm 145:7-8ff; Psalm 119:72, 93, 103; Psalm 23:4
  3. Take Heart, 16
  4. Dean of Canterbury from 1619-1625, quoted in A Puritan Golden Treasury

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True Satisfaction

Posted in Appreciation, Blessings, Encouragement, Faith, God's Provision, Praise, Uncategorized, Worship, tagged , , , , on May 26, 2022| 38 Comments »

“The Lord is my Shepherd; I shall not want” (Psalm 23:1 KJV).

Many of us memorized those words as children. And some of us may have thought, “Wow! That means God will give me whatever I want!”

So we prayed for new bicycles, the latest gadgets, and swimming pools in our backyards—absolutely certain that if God gave us these hearts’ desires, we’d be truly satisfied.

Some of our prayers were answered affirmatively. A new bicycle with sparkling spokes actually materialized by the Christmas tree. Or Aunt Kate heard the pleas for Mattell’s Magical Music Thing, and sent it as a birthday gift.

But as the years went by, the wise and introspective among us realized:

1. When one desire is fulfilled, another quickly takes its place.

Years ago I heard that a famous actress had accumulated seven houses, each one a different style from the others. Why? Because moving from one to another eased her boredom. (I wonder how long it took to become discontented with House #4, or #5, or #6, before she hired an architect to start the next?)

2. God isn’t in the business of making wishes come true.

Psalm 23:1 doesn’t mean: “I’m one of God’s flock! I’m gonna live on Easy Street!”

If he did grant every whim, we’d soon become self-centered and spoiled.

Perhaps a clarifying interpretation of the opening scripture would be: “God is my loving Care-Giver. All that I enjoy in my relationship with him far outweighs anything this world has to offer. I really don’t need another single thing.”

Ah, to be as soul-satisfied as King David, the author of this psalm!  How can we become that contented?

One place to begin is with gratitude and praise.

Think of all we enjoy as a result of our relationship with God.  Peace, joy, and provision quickly come to mind.

Here are a few more:

  • Companionship with a perfect Friend—every moment of every day–into eternity.  He is always listening, always watchful, always diligent.
  • Hope. No situation is beyond the control of our Almighty God.
  • Settledness, because he is in control, and “makes good things even out of hard times” (Erica Hale).
  • Truth. We don’t have to muddle through life like a do-it-yourselfer with no instruction manual. “The unfolding of [God’s] words gives light; it gives understanding to the simple” (Psalm 119:130).

The bottom-line is this: No possession or position, no place or person on earth can fill our hearts with contentment.

3. True satisfaction flourishes when we affirm that in God we have all we need.

Remember Jesus’ invitation in Matthew 11:28?

Are you weary of the dissatisfaction that results from striving for the next desire?  Are you burdened by unfulfilled wishes and dreams?

Come to Jesus.  Count the scores of blessings he’s already provided in the past, is currently providing this very moment, and has already prepared in the glory of heaven yet to come.

Cultivate true satisfaction in your heart with gratitude and praise!

*     *     *     *     *     *     *     *     *     *

What helps you cultivate true satisfaction?  Please share in the Comments section below!

Art & photo credits: http://www.canva.com; http://www.flickr.com; http://www.rawpixel.com; http://www.wikimedia.org.

(Revised and reblogged from 7-10-14 while we enjoy house guests.)

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How Strong Is Your Core?

Posted in Appreciation, Encouragement, Faith, God's Faithfulness, God's Goodness, Hope, Joy, Meditation, Prayer, Renewing the Mind, Uncategorized, tagged , , , , , , on March 17, 2022| 24 Comments »

Fitness experts will tell you, strong core muscles of the mid-section greatly enhance your physical well-being, contributing to stability that prevents falls, minimization of strain that causes pain, as well as effective breathing that optimizes oxygen flow.

When core strength is absent, a person is likely to:

  • have difficulty getting up from a chair without leverage
  • struggle to bend down and tie his shoes
  • find himself slouching
  • lose his balance
  • experience back pain

But it’s never too late to reverse such ills. Those same fitness experts recommend exercises: crunches, planks, and bridges—to name a few—although just a brisk walk engages core muscles and contributes to strength.

Of course, even more important than our physical fitness is spiritual strength, which raises a new question:

How strong is your core–of the soul?

Just as we can identify symptoms of physical weakness, we can identify soul-weakness when challenge mires us in such thoughts as: Why me? This is so unfair. If God cared, this wouldn’t be happening.

However, it’s never too late to reverse such ills. Our spiritual Fitness Expert, God himself, has provided exercises to strengthen our souls, including:

Bible Meditation

More than just reading a passage, meditation includes taking to heart God’s Word and responding personally.

For example, how might you respond to Psalm 147:5, “Great is our Lord and mighty in power; his understanding has no limit?”

Perhaps your response would be similar to my own.

I praise you, O God, for your omnipotent power. Nothing is impossible for you (Luke 18:27)! Just that knowledge alone can settle my anxious heart and foster sweet hope.

I praise you also for your unlimited understanding. You are a God of infinite wisdom and you generously offer to bestow wisdom to me–if I just ask (James 1:5).

Thank you for coming alongside, ever-ready to expend your power and wisdom for my good. You are a gracious God beyond what anyone could hope for!

Such an exercise develops the muscle of faith, contributes to stability of soul, and helps prevent falls into worry and fear.

Positive Prayer

Even the tone of my prayers can impact soul-strength. If I focus on the problem, the emotional pain is likely to remain:

Lord, I don’t know what we’re going to do. I keep trying various scenarios in my mind but there seems no way out of these circumstances. You’ve got to help us, although I don’t see how. What a mess!  

On the other hand, if I focus on God’s attributes at work and his promises that apply, the strain of the situation diminishes:

“I praise and thank you, Father, that I have no reason to fear. You’ve given our family the promise that you’ll fight for us; all we have to do is stand firm and see your salvation (Exodus 14:13-14). YOU are our strength, providing the wherewithal to rectify this situation. YOU are our very present help in this time of trouble (Psalm 46:1).

As positivity is expressed in our prayers, the spiritual muscle of hope develops.

Gratitude & Joy

It stands to reason: if we focus on the problems surrounding us, discouragement will weaken our spirits.

But if we focus on all the good things flowing to us from God’s loving heart, we’ll find plenty to be joyful about. It’s just a matter of engaging our praise and gratitude muscles.

Most sets of the physical exercises I do each morning include twenty repetitions. I wonder if we could name twenty of God’s attributes, providing twenty reasons to be joyful in him?

Skim through the psalms with me, and let’s see what we find:

1. Watchfulness (1:6)

2. Righteousness (5:8)

3. Protection (5:11)

4. Encouragement (10:17)

5. Unfailing love (13:5)

6. Security (16:5)

7. Perfect ways (18:30)

8. Victorious power (20:6)

9. Goodness (25:8)

10. Uprightness (25:8)

11. Faithful ways (25:10)

12. Strength (28:8)

13. Splendorous holiness (29:2)

14. Justice (36:6)

15. Ever-present help (46:1)

16. Guidance (48:14)

17. Great compassion (51:1)

18. Power (62:11)

19. Forgiveness (65:3)

20. Sovereignty (71:16)

We did it—and long before reaching the end of Psalms!

Do you find the strain on your spirit relaxing, just in reviewing his surpassing greatness?  Is renewed strength, stability, hope, and joy flowing into your soul?

Keep up those soul-core exercises!

Photo credits: http://www.pxhere.com; http://www.pixabay.com; http://www.heartlight.org; http://www.dailyverses.net; http://www.piqsels.com; http://www.heartlight.org; pxhere.com.

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