This past week was a rough one. For some reason, my mind wanted me to focus on all the things I don’t have, instead of focusing on how blessed I am. I decided to attend the pity party I was throwing for myself, all week.
It wasn’t surprising when by Friday morning, the devotion I received centered on choosing to be happy with what we have instead of focusing on what others have. I guess it also shouldn’t surprise me that Friday night’s reading that was chosen by my daughter was ‘Gratitude’.
By then my complaining spirit had somewhat subsided, but God still knew that I needed to be reminded. The thing is, I know that when I start focusing on me, instead of God, my attitude is bound to change, but I chose to allow myself to remain in that mood. Conversely, I know that had I tried harder to change my focus from me and onto God, it wouldn’t have taken all week. I knew I needed to ask for forgiveness. I also recognize how blessed I am, and I tried to keep that in focus, but even in that, I still found things to complain about.
Friends, are you going through something that is making you feel as if you don’t have enough, and you should have more? I had to constantly remind myself that I needed to count my blessings more than focusing on what I don’t have. When we focus on the negatives, I assure you, we will find plenty of negatives. However, likewise, when we focus on the positives, those multiply too.
As I was reading the ‘Gratitude’ section out loud to me and my daughter last night, I was tired, and decided to just read the first page of scripture. She asked if I had read all of them and I answered honestly that I hadn’t (I was tired and ready to go to sleep). She then suggested I read all of them. I think that was just the reminder that I needed that I needed to be grateful in all things. This is one of the verses from the page I almost didn’t read. 1 Thessalonians 5:18kjv ‘ In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.’ And another ‘Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good, for His loving kindness is everlasting’ Psalm 136:1 NASB.
Dear Lord, we thank you for the reminder that we ought to be thankful in everything, no matter what we are facing. Lord, there are times that we can’t see how our difficult paths now are being used to pave the way for an easier future, but you can see all things from the beginning to the end, and so I ask that we learn to give thanks in all circumstances, even the hard ones because it ultimately helps to build our character.