I felt like Gomer Pyle this morning and just wanted to say thank you, thank you, thank you. The sun was beautiful this morning. It was a stunning reddish orange hue as it peeked over the horizon. As I sat on my front porch putting on my work boots, a flock of geese flew directly over me honking to each other joyfully declaring the birth of a new day. I heard some crows raucously cawing and I felt peace and contentment fill my soul. I contemplated how I sometimes get in a hurry and don’t even take the time to just sit back in my rocker on the porch and enjoy.
This led me to reflect on all the things that I take for granted each day. Sometimes it’s good to take a break from the frenzied pace in which we find ourselves, reflect upon the many blessings of which we enjoy including being greeted by a gorgeous sunrise, and thank God for all that he is doing behind the scenes. The Bible teaches that God holds our universe within His hands. That is a beautiful metaphor. He provides for all our needs and watches over us as we muddle our way through life.
It’s impossible to understand God. The Bible tells us that a sparrow cannot fall to the ground without God knowing it and that the very hairs on our heads are numbered. His love for His creatures is so great, and He is so powerful that we don’t have the intellectual capacity to understand or fully appreciate Him. The Bible tells us that our ways are lower than His and that we see dimly now, as if we were viewing something through a dim mirror, but one day we will see clearly.
It is my hope that everyone who is reading this today will take a moment to quietly reflect upon God. Do not take what He has done and is doing for you for granted today. Think about your health, your family, and your family’s health, also think about the warm sun and the fresh air that you breathe, the soothing cool water that you drink. Think about your intellect and capacity to enjoy life, and even with all her faults, living in the greatest country on earth, free to worship and come and go as you please.
And if you are grateful for all the blessings of God and for all that he does to hold our universe and your life together, then you might try simply telling Him, “Thank you Lord, I really appreciate it”. Tell Him you love Him with all your heart. The Bible tells us that God desires for us to acknowledge all that He does for us, and He wants us to recognize it and appreciate it, just as you value it when you do something for someone and they sincerely tell you they are grateful.
Many of us seem to only call upon God in times of trouble and there WILL be times of trouble in all our lives. Guess what? He’s there for that too, and He wants us to call on Him when we are up or down, (even when we are taking everything that He does for granted). I call upon the Lord during the bad and good times too – I imagine He appreciates that more than I will ever know. Glorify His name! Try it you will like it!
Psalms 51:14
Offer to God thanksgiving, And pay your vows to the Most High.
Call upon Me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you shall glorify Me.
Have a great weekend and go to church this Sunday!