30 Days of Gratitude
‘My heart overflows with praise to you, God, and for your promises, I will always trust you. So I’m thanking you with all my heart, with gratitude for all you’ve done. I will do everything I’ve promised you, Lord. Psalm 56:11-12 (TPT).’
Day 8 * Just Grateful: Warmly or deeply appreciative of kindnesses or benefits received; indebted and beholden
The epiphany hits me like walking outside and suddenly squinting in the unexpected sunlight, a delightful realization on what was forecast to be a gloomy day. Or like when the phone bleeps, and at once, the voice on the other end of the connection is so real and precious, the one necessary voice that could bring hope to any drastic day, and suddenly, it’s there, just for you to hear. You intended this, God, didn’t you? Genesis 50:20, ‘He intended to harm me, but you, God, intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives (NIV).’
The internet, satellites, 4K television, social platforms, media, distancing, cell phones, Bluetooth, 5G service, remote work, control, relationships; all of it, holding us together while driving us apart. Everyone at one time or another depicted Satan as a little red devil, wearing only a smile and a diaper and a tail for a pitchfork. That’s not who he is at all, is he? He intended to be the captivator sending subtle messages through our TV shows and chat rooms, whispering in our ears when we got close enough, telling us we weren’t as good as our neighbors or our children as our sisters’ kids, that we would never be enough. He wanted to be our technical god, our electronic warden. But you, God, you have turned it for our good, what he meant for evil. Look! You are filling living rooms and bedrooms, capitol steps and city streets, with your Word, godly instruction, worship and praise that is unifying not only your people but those who have never given you entrance into their hearts. That isn’t all! Satan set out to wreck havoc in our feeble minds at the beginning of this year. He planted bugs in our bodies and brains, used all our fears and insecurities like weapons against us. This time he dressed up like a newscaster and yammered one disaster after another while we struggled to hang on to our minds, our jobs, our families. But you, God, you have used it as an awakening with what he meant to tranquilize our hope and deaden our last shred of goodness. You brought your Word right in to our homes and introduced yourself to those who have never taken time to meet you; you sat down on couches and bathroom floors and met us where we are at, so we could know the comfort of your presence. And now you are so close, God, I can feel you breathe on my heart like a gentle wind, refreshing and faithful, moving me to live again. John 1:14, ‘The Word became flesh and blood and moved into the neighborhood. We saw the glory with our own eyes, the one-of-a-kind glory, like Father, like Son, generous inside and out, true from start to finish (MSG).’
