"One word comes to mind: Gratitude...," from "Before the Throne"
When I finished my last post, I finished with this line, but wanted to elaborate more on the subject of gratitude. This spring/summer have been periods of tremendous growth for me. It's almost as if I feel the literal turning of a page in my life. The winds have shifted, there is change in the air. I can feel the freedom in my bones from the telling of the truth (John 8:32). There is a rustling inside of me that is ready to take the next steps necessary, to do the work that God has for me. It's not because everything is right, or even that I have the solutions to everything. It's because the truth of the word of God has changed my perspective and my heart over and over again, slowly renewing me as I learn to know my Creator (Colossians 3:10 NLT).
Something I've realized is how threatening a person with a grateful hear must be to the schemes of satan. Colossians 2:7 says, "Let your roots grow down into him, and let you lives be built on him. Then your faith will grow strong in the truth you were taught, and you will overflow with thankfulness." (Emphasis mine.) In my Bible, I made the note, "truth - gospel - grace - gratitude." If truth is the gospel, and the gospel is grace, and grace leads us to be grateful, then truth leads to gratitude. And if Jesus is the embodiment of truth (John 14:6), then a life abiding in Christ - in truth - is a grateful life. So, I do believe that a truly grateful heart may be a bigger threat to satan than we may initially think. (At least more than I initially thought!)
A grateful heart is content and joyful because it knows that true fullness comes from God and God alone.
"Always be full of joy in the Lord. I say it again - rejoice!... Then you will experience God's peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus."
- Philippians 4:4,7
"Not that I was ever in need, for I have learned how to be content with whatever I have."
- Philippians 4:11
A grateful heart is not rushed or panicked because it knows that every detail of its life is being worked out for God's glory, in God's perfect timing, even if things don't look promising at that given moment.
"And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns."
- Philippians 1:6
"This is what the Lord says: 'You will be in Babylon for seventy years. But then I will come and do for you all the good things I have promised, and I will bring you home again. For I know the plans I have for you,' says the Lord. 'They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.'"
- Jeremiah 29:10-11
"Yet I am confident I will see the Lord's goodness while I am here in the land of the living. Wait patiently for the Lord. Be brave and courageous. Yes, wait patiently for the Lord."
- Psalm 27:13-14
A grateful heart is humble in graciousness and forgiveness towards others because it knows that it is only by the grace of God that it has been reconciled with Him and forgiven because of the death and resurrection of Christ - nothing else.
"God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can't take credit for this; it is a gift from God. Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it."
- Ephesians 2:8-9
"Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another just as Christ has forgiven you."
- Ephesians 4:32
"Live in harmony with each other. Don't be too proud to enjoy the company of ordinary people.... Do all that you can to be at peace with everyone."
- Romans 12:16, 18
A grateful heart is not greedy; rather, it is generous, giving to others out of the fullness of Christ that is dwelling inside, not concerned about materialistic loss or gain, trusting that God is the ultimate provider of its needs, and, knowing that He uses His body to take care of His people, is willing to step in and step up for those who need it.
"And don't give reluctantly or in response to pressure. 'For God loves a person who gives cheerfully.' And God will generously provide all you need.... Yes, you will be enriched in every way so that you can always be generous. And when we take your gifts to those who need them, they will thank God."
- 2 Corinthians 9:7, 11
"Let everyone see that you are considerate in all you do. Remember, the Lord is coming soon."
- Philippians 4:5
"Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples."
- John 13:35
"The one thing I ask of the Lord - the thing I seek the most - is to live in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, delighting in the lord's perfections and meditating in His temple."
- Psalm 27:4
"Don't be greedy, for a greedy person is an idolater, worshiping the things of this world."
- Colossians 3:5
"I once thought these things were valuable, but now I consider them worthless because of what Christ has done. Yes, everything else is worthless when compared with the infinite value of knowing Christ Jesus as my Lord. For his sake I have discarded everything else, counting it all as garbage, so that I could gain Christ."
- Philippians 3:7-8
A grateful heart is so steadfast in its trust of the continuing goodness of God that no current or future trial or tribulation can shake it.
"Do not worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done."
- Philippians 4:6
"So humble yourselves under the mighty power of God, and at the right time he will lift you up in honor. Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you."
- 1 Peter 5:6-7
"But you must continue to believe this truth and stand firmly in it. Don't drift away from the assurance you received when yo heard the Good News."
- Colossians 1:23
I wish I was coming to you as someone who got all of this right all of the time and can help you get it right too. Instead, I am coming to you as someone who recognizes her progress but also sees how much work is still needed. Look at this as an invitation to grow with me, to be committed to walking in truth, thus gratitude, and becoming a body that is truly living from the eternal fullness of Christ, not for the temporary things of this world. I'm sure we will stumble along the way, I probably will today. But knowing we're in it together makes the journey a little less daunting and a lot more exciting!
When I finished my last post, I finished with this line, but wanted to elaborate more on the subject of gratitude. This spring/summer have been periods of tremendous growth for me. It's almost as if I feel the literal turning of a page in my life. The winds have shifted, there is change in the air. I can feel the freedom in my bones from the telling of the truth (John 8:32). There is a rustling inside of me that is ready to take the next steps necessary, to do the work that God has for me. It's not because everything is right, or even that I have the solutions to everything. It's because the truth of the word of God has changed my perspective and my heart over and over again, slowly renewing me as I learn to know my Creator (Colossians 3:10 NLT).
Something I've realized is how threatening a person with a grateful hear must be to the schemes of satan. Colossians 2:7 says, "Let your roots grow down into him, and let you lives be built on him. Then your faith will grow strong in the truth you were taught, and you will overflow with thankfulness." (Emphasis mine.) In my Bible, I made the note, "truth - gospel - grace - gratitude." If truth is the gospel, and the gospel is grace, and grace leads us to be grateful, then truth leads to gratitude. And if Jesus is the embodiment of truth (John 14:6), then a life abiding in Christ - in truth - is a grateful life. So, I do believe that a truly grateful heart may be a bigger threat to satan than we may initially think. (At least more than I initially thought!)
A grateful heart is content and joyful because it knows that true fullness comes from God and God alone.
"Always be full of joy in the Lord. I say it again - rejoice!... Then you will experience God's peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus."
- Philippians 4:4,7
"Not that I was ever in need, for I have learned how to be content with whatever I have."
- Philippians 4:11
A grateful heart is not rushed or panicked because it knows that every detail of its life is being worked out for God's glory, in God's perfect timing, even if things don't look promising at that given moment.
"And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns."
- Philippians 1:6
"This is what the Lord says: 'You will be in Babylon for seventy years. But then I will come and do for you all the good things I have promised, and I will bring you home again. For I know the plans I have for you,' says the Lord. 'They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.'"
- Jeremiah 29:10-11
"Yet I am confident I will see the Lord's goodness while I am here in the land of the living. Wait patiently for the Lord. Be brave and courageous. Yes, wait patiently for the Lord."
- Psalm 27:13-14
A grateful heart is humble in graciousness and forgiveness towards others because it knows that it is only by the grace of God that it has been reconciled with Him and forgiven because of the death and resurrection of Christ - nothing else.
"God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can't take credit for this; it is a gift from God. Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it."
- Ephesians 2:8-9
"Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another just as Christ has forgiven you."
- Ephesians 4:32
"Live in harmony with each other. Don't be too proud to enjoy the company of ordinary people.... Do all that you can to be at peace with everyone."
- Romans 12:16, 18
A grateful heart is not greedy; rather, it is generous, giving to others out of the fullness of Christ that is dwelling inside, not concerned about materialistic loss or gain, trusting that God is the ultimate provider of its needs, and, knowing that He uses His body to take care of His people, is willing to step in and step up for those who need it.
"And don't give reluctantly or in response to pressure. 'For God loves a person who gives cheerfully.' And God will generously provide all you need.... Yes, you will be enriched in every way so that you can always be generous. And when we take your gifts to those who need them, they will thank God."
- 2 Corinthians 9:7, 11
"Let everyone see that you are considerate in all you do. Remember, the Lord is coming soon."
- Philippians 4:5
"Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples."
- John 13:35
"The one thing I ask of the Lord - the thing I seek the most - is to live in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, delighting in the lord's perfections and meditating in His temple."
- Psalm 27:4
"Don't be greedy, for a greedy person is an idolater, worshiping the things of this world."
- Colossians 3:5
"I once thought these things were valuable, but now I consider them worthless because of what Christ has done. Yes, everything else is worthless when compared with the infinite value of knowing Christ Jesus as my Lord. For his sake I have discarded everything else, counting it all as garbage, so that I could gain Christ."
- Philippians 3:7-8
A grateful heart is so steadfast in its trust of the continuing goodness of God that no current or future trial or tribulation can shake it.
"Do not worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done."
- Philippians 4:6
"So humble yourselves under the mighty power of God, and at the right time he will lift you up in honor. Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you."
- 1 Peter 5:6-7
"But you must continue to believe this truth and stand firmly in it. Don't drift away from the assurance you received when yo heard the Good News."
- Colossians 1:23
I wish I was coming to you as someone who got all of this right all of the time and can help you get it right too. Instead, I am coming to you as someone who recognizes her progress but also sees how much work is still needed. Look at this as an invitation to grow with me, to be committed to walking in truth, thus gratitude, and becoming a body that is truly living from the eternal fullness of Christ, not for the temporary things of this world. I'm sure we will stumble along the way, I probably will today. But knowing we're in it together makes the journey a little less daunting and a lot more exciting!
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