Grateful for Being Grateful

Psalm 7:17 NIV

I will give thanks to the Lord because of his righteousness; I will sing the praises of the name of the Lord Most High.

Psalm 28:7 NIV

The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and he helps me. My heart leaps for joy, and with my song I praise him.

This afternoon I was looking at a video a friend of mine shared. First when I watched I laughed to myself here he goes again. The Philosopher. Then I realized that I often don’t stop enough and simply express to the Lord my thanksgiving to Him for being about to give Him praise.

I need to have an attitude of gratitude. I need to be grateful for being able to be grateful.

Last night we had a nice evening together at Girlfriend’s looking at the word of God closely and we took time to look at the love chapter in 1 Cor. 13 and broke it down sentence by sentence almost applying it to our lives each day. We often only look at that those verses of scripture when we hear it read at weddings or in preparation for a wedding, anniversary or Valentine’s day. But love is something that is present everyday not just on one day of the year or at least I sure hope we can say it is present always in our lives.

Then as we were adding in color and looking at the designs the other ladies were doing I had a moment when I was sitting next to Michaela. So thankful first that she wanted to be there. She was really taking it in and enjoying her cup of tea and time sitting with the other ladies. Then she shared how much she loved the 23rd Psalm. First of all, I never knew that about her before. Second of all I love that she has a love for God’s word and was eager to share her favorite with everyone. She was willing to be vulnerable.

I thought my of all the verses of scripture that one is some morbid isn’t it. Or too familiar. Then I stopped myself and looked at how quickly I take these things for granted.

When could I not celebrate the fact my girl was there having the ladies of the church pour into her life in that manner. She desires God to move in her in a new way and is eager to grab it and go. No matter what the scripture is or how familiar it is it is God’s authoritative word. It is still powerful and alive and speaks deeply to all hearts.

So then I saw this friend sharing how he is grateful for the ability to be grateful. Again I am reminded to look at all the areas in life and honor God and praise Him for it. I woke up this morning and had breath in my lungs to take on another day. I am blessed. The fact that I get to be grateful and have that feeling and explore that attitude I am blessed.

This friend lost his son and has suffered great heartbreak because of it. I saw him and his wife at their very worst. I felt the Lord whisper in my heart if he can be grateful for being grateful after experiencing that level of loss and pain than surely goodness I am real? Surely goodness you can share this hope I give freely?

I love hoe He takes moments to remind us that He is with us. We ought to remember that He gives us the ability to breath. The ability to worship, the ability to bear witness to the glory and splendor of who He is.

Hebrews 13:1–2 NIV

Keep on loving one another as brothers and sisters. Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing some people have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it.

Hebrews 13:15–16 NIV

Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise—the fruit of lips that openly profess his name. And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased.