A Grateful Life??? Really???  A Word from THE WORD!!! #153

 

Gratitude is an attitude, but it’s so much more and I just want to share a few thoughts in this regard.

“Serve the LORD

with gladness:

come before his presence

with singing.

3 Know ye that the LORD he is God:

it is he that hath made us,

and not we ourselves;

we are his people,

and the sheep of his pasture.

4 Enter into his gates

with thanksgiving,

and into his courts

with praise:

be thankful unto him,

and bless his name.

5 For the LORD is good;

his mercy is everlasting;

and his truth endureth

to all generations.”  Psalm 100:2-5

The Psalmist paints an amazing picture here of our relationship to God—and that is the root of gratitude; so let’s peruse the things that make for a grateful heart, and a productive life lived for God’s glory and our ultimate good.

We are to:

       Serve God—with gladness not grudgingly—

       Seek HIS presence—with singing not selfish squawking-

       Remember—God IS GOD, HE made us—we didn’t do it–

       BE HIS people/HIS sheep—Stop butting heads—

       Come before HIM—with grateful praise—

       Show our gratitude with words of blessing—not vain ones!

When we practice being in HIS presence and spending time with our LORD, we can learn so much about gratitude, grace, love, and humility!  Our God is a good, good God, but how will the world come to know that when we won’t live like it!  We moan and complain; we let the glitter of the world blind us to HIS truth; we choose the world over our God, which breed the worst kind of discontent!  All this when we serve the most amazing, loving, merciful and truthful God—HE loves us so much that HE sent JESUS to be our Savior and Redeemer.  Just spend some time thinking about the price that Jesus paid for us and coming into God’s presence “with thanksgiving”!  I truly believe that gratitude breeds confident faith in the God we claim to follow.  May James’ words help us understand that our God IS totally trustworthy, and we can thank HIM in all things—knowing that we can ask questions, and God won’t get mad, but HE will lead us into HIS truth, if we can but wait on the Lord! (See Psalm 37:3-8)

“My brethren,

count it all joy

when ye fall into divers temptations;

3 Knowing this,

that the trying of your faith

worketh patience.

4 But let patience have her perfect work,

that ye may be perfect (complete/mature)

and entire,

wanting nothing. (lacking nothing)

5 If any of you lack wisdom,

let him ask of God,

that giveth to all men liberally,

and upbraideth not;

and it shall be given him.”  James 1:2-5

May we live ‘gratefully’ before a world of greed!  They need to see JESUS IN US!

Amen and Amen!!!