Journal Entry ~ 11/30/18

1 Oh give thanks to the LORD; call upon his name; make known his deeds among the peoples! 
2 Sing to him, sing praises to him; tell of all his wondrous works!  - Psalm 105:1-2

If we want the joy that is promised to us in this life, then we need to develop a heart of gratitude. But it must go deeper than a simple gratefulness for the things we have in life. Most of us can find something to be thankful for in every situation, and generally, when reminded, we stop and focus on the gifts He has given us. But our joy doesn’t change because our heart really hasn’t changed. Perhaps we’re momentarily distracted from our struggles by those things we stop and say thank for, but we really haven’t found a lasting joy in our struggles. 

These verses seem to include a gratitude much deeper than a simple distraction. The energy and enthusiasm are a deep joy and celebration of God’s goodness. If we want that joy in our lives, we must push ourselves deeper level of gratitude. We are told to be thankful for all things - not just to look for the good in all situations, but to be thankful for the difficult situation itself. This deeper level of gratitude is thankful even for those circumstances that we wouldn’t choose for ourselves because we know and we trust that God is working all things for our good.

Everything He has placed in our lives and in our path has a purpose, and I trust that He knows what He's doing. The creator of the whole universe doesn't make mistakes, and He didn't make a mistake when He allowed these trials into my life. There is a purpose and a reason for every difficult situation we experience, and I know it’s to refine me. When we can move to the place where we can thank God for using the valleys in our lives to grow us closer to the image of Christ, that’s when we will find a supernatural joy that isn’t just a momentary distraction, but a joy that permeates our entire life. 


Press on ~ you are loved 💗

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