So I sit here quickly jotting this down before work this morning.
On my drive in to to work this morning I was thinking of how much work I have to do (work and home). How crazy things have been and how I need some sleep. I started to get irritated. My breakfast was on the run and not very good. I had about 4 hours of sleep last night. I haven’t had a lot of quality time with my family because we all have a million things going on in our lives. I need more time in the Word.
The I checked myself. What was I doing? I stopped and prayed, “Lord of the Universe, Creator of all things seen and unseen, One who nothing is hidden from … what is this in my HEART? I sincerely apologize for not thanking You that I woke up this morning. Thank You for the breath that I am taking for granted! I thank You that I have a job to go to that supplies the needs of my family. I thank You that even though my breakfast is quick, gross and on the run THAT I HAVE BREAKFAST … I will not go hungry today like so many others worldwide! I may not have time with my busy family but I thank You that You gave me Godly parents, a wonderful, beautiful, God centered wife, two amazing children who are following after You and so many good friends. I am truly an unworthy man and You chose to bless me many times over any trouble that is in my life and I’ve taken that for granted again.”
Have you done the same? So many have had major loss this year. I lost my brother but I thank God that in his last few months He had moved in his life. I know where my brother is. Loss of a job? What a horrible thing that is to a family and to that person. But lest we forget everything we have is a gift from the Lord including our jobs. Pray and trust in Him. Trouble in relationships or at work? I am not minimizing that. I’ve been there. It is not easy to take God’s advice on this but what we are called to do so (and believe me it is hard for me to obey this command at times too when my mind is racing): Philippians 4:4-7 “Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice. Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” (ESV)
When you were walking into your office or home did you take a deep breath (even if hard during allergy season? :-\) and thank Him for the breath in your lungs? Look around … the Scripture tells us He is evident in all of Creation … we do not worship the creation but the Creator … yet do we stop to thank Him for the trees, grass, oxygen? For the cool breeze on our face? Did you get upset when you woke up and saw the rain? Did you think, “oh traffic is going to bad what a way to start the day” or did you say, “Thank You my God, my Creator, for the rain that You make to fall upon the Earth.” Did you let it hit your face and cool your brow and know that His creation is good? Thank You Lord for Your rain.
Please take a moment today. Just stop. Trouble will always be there. Just stop and thank Him. Times are tough and your trouble may be strong but our God is stronger. For His chosen He is there for us at all times. He is our Sovereign King and all things work according to His will even when we just can’t see how that is possible (been there too). Stop and thank Him even in your tribulation for the good things and for the tribulation as we are to do according to the Scriptures. For those in trouble, I’m not trying to minimize that trouble. I’ve been there. Just stop. Thank Him for what you do have. Life, breath, food, water, rain, trees, friends, family … and most importantly, for His children, eternal life through the saving grace of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. What else matters in the end? And do it even in tribulation as Scripture tells us to.
Romans 5:3-5 “More than that, we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.” (ESV)
Be thankful for what you have … praise and thank Him in the good times and in the bad my friends. For His chosen people, thank Him that He died for your eternal salvation and that you are indwelled with the Holy Spirit! Be thankful to Him for and in ALL things my friends.
God bless you … your friend in Christ,
Vince Jr.
