Abide in Thankfulness

Recently, I tried in prayer to only give thanks to God and ask for nothing.  Quite quickly, I realized how complicated thankfulness really is!  After my third mistake of turning thanksgiving into asking, I started to laugh.  My mind pictured Jesus and I laughing together on this one.  My heart was there, truly.  But, with the news of a devastating diagnosis for a friend, concern for a family member, and the gaping whole of loss in my own life, my sincere mission to end my day praising God for Who He is, ended in desperate pleas for help.  I know our Father understands and asking for help is what we are supposed to do. Still, why the struggle to remain focused on thankfulness?

Generally, thankfulness raises my expectations.  In contrast, dwelling on difficulties diminishes my hopes.  Often, I find it hard to stay thankful when the challenges of a day, the weariness of an important relationship needs attention, a reminder of loss raises its ugly head, or a valid need gives me much to think about.  My mind wanders upon the comfortable ground of self pity, and the result?  Sometimes complete despair. At the least, a separation from faith-filled joy and peace. 

I don't want to live as a bottom dweller, dashing my hopes and dreams for God's purposes for me and others upon the bedrock of disappointment.  My thoughts matter and if unbridled, I live in diminished hope.  And, most often, while living low, thankfulness resides on a distant horizon.

But, haven't you experienced this?  When a new day is dawning and the birds are singing, thankfulness rolls off the tip of your tongue?  It reminisces over our heads all day long.  How then do we remain on the mountaintop of thankfulness amidst the earthly problems we live with, day in and day out?

"A thankful mindset does not entail a denial of reality with its plethora of problems.  Instead, it rejoices in me, your Savior, in the midst of trials and tribulations."  An excerpt from Jesus Calling by Sarah Young.

I find that when I am thankful for the beauty of my relationship with Jesus, life's lows aren't so important.  Jesus is lifted up in my heart and mind.  Reminded of my true purpose, I can sing, rejoice, and live on a higher plain.  Jesus becomes grand and troubles shrink.  Hope is renewed, restored, and resounding.  Thankfulness raises my expectations for me and for others.

"So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness."  2 Colossians 2:6-7

Living our lives in Jesus, being grounded and growing in him, strengthening our faith, not only remaining thankful but overflowing with thankfulness, we gain a greater understanding of what it is to live for and because of Christ.  Troubles will still come our way, but we remain constant, steady, strong in Jesus.  Thankfulness roots deeper in our souls and reveals consistent growth.  

A great life goal would be to abide in thankfulness.  Just think of the possibilities!  An eternally lifted heart, thankfully proclaiming the magnificence of Christ in your life.  I want that.  I need that. 

Display Meekness

The morning of my visit with my grandchildren started out a little rough.  My granddaughter skinned her knee on my back step.  I quickly found out, she had not experienced that caliber of a scrape before.  Most of the day, she nursed her wound with a damp towel to ease her suffering and kept the weight off of her leg.  Consequently, our planned outing to a coffee shop, lunch, and ice cream, turned into more than I had hoped for.  Without her agreeing to walk, my arms became very full doting around her and her baby brother.  Hunger set in and the two of them quickly expressed their sincere desire to eat, right now!  The stroller wouldn’t open (or close for that matter), perfect strangers helped me understand modern engineering, and a walk to our lunch spot was quickly halted because everyone was frustrated.  The drive-thru was my friend this day, until the ice cream to-go spilled in the cardboard carrier and the fast food attendant was rude.  Patience had waned, justification had set in, and my attitude was glaringly apparent.  My thought to the attendant was, “You have NO IDEA what has just happened here!”  After four trips to get everyone and everything back into the house, lunch was served.  An hour and a half in the making, it was nap time, for me!

The burden of that small part of my day was not light.  It was physically, emotionally, and spiritually challenging.  It reminded me of how easily and quickly something great can turn into something so difficult.   And, how easily I can allow my pride and wrong attitude to give me permission to act just like anyone else in the world and not guard my heart and actions in difficult moments. 

Matthew 11:28-30 reads,  “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.  Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.  For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” (Emphasis mine)

By the time I had run through the drive-thru, I practically snarled at the attendant when her actions didn’t ease my situation.  I felt justified in not being polite, to not respond with gentleness and humility of heart.  But that’s not Jesus.

In the Beatitudes we learn in Matthew 5:5, “Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.”  This is what Jesus expects for members of his kingdom.  This should be our character on display.  But, in our own strength, this standard is too high and unattainable, except through the power of the Holy Spirit. 

This meekness refers to our disposition before God, referring to humility.  Before God and because of God, the predominant attitude of my heart ought to be meekness.  The tendency of my heart should not be frustration and pride, but gentleness and humility.  That is meekness as character strength. 

Read Psalm 37.  Meekness trusts, commits, rests, and is confident.  Meekness is strength.  As we cultivate faithfulness that trusts, joy that delights, surrender that commits, patience that waits, hope that brings confidence, the spirit of meekness will be a fruit of our character.  We are called to walk by the Spirit, be controlled by the Spirit, thus cultivating a spirit of meekness. 

As I drove home with the kids in the van, my focus was on myself, and my burden was heavy.   I was certainly weak.  Meekness depends on the Holy Spirit to bring peace and rest for the soul, a strength that can only exist in Christ.  “Jesus, help me to learn from you.”