Posts Tagged: Romans 12:15
“LOVING BEING GRATEFUL
“thank God no matter what happens. This is the way God wants you who belong to Christ Jesus to live.” (1 Thessalonians 5:18, The Message)
Even when I give thanks, I can be selfish about it. Let me explain.
I often give thanks for what other people have done, is doing, or will do for me. I give thanks for what God has done, is doing, or will do for me. I give thanks for good things that have happened, are happening, or will happen for me.
Did you catch the little prepositional phrase at the end of each sentence in the preceding paragraph: “for me”? It is less selfish to give thanks than it is to pretend that we are self-made and self-blessed. However, it still seems like a low-grade form of selfishness. And a low-grade form of selfishness is like a low-grade fever—a sign that all is not well. I did not realize this until God got my attention this morning, and I actually obeyed. Obedience is a wonderful Bible study tool!
So, this morning God challenged me to give thanks for some good things that other people are experiencing or doing. Several people from my life group came to mind, and also a friend at the University who just passed the viva for his PhD.
After listing several things for which I was grateful that had nothing to do with me directly, I felt the joy of the LORD sweep over me. So, my next item on today’s gratitude list was as follows:
“Gratitude lists. How I’ve come to love doing these things! They help get me out of the hellish echo chamber of my mind.”
I also thought of Paul saying, “Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn.” (Romans 12:15) One aspect of this rejoicing is being thankful for good things that have nothing to do with us.
No matter how badly things seem to be going for me, or really are going for me, I can find some good things happening to others for which I can be profoundly grateful. There is a boundless supply of grist for gratitude.
DOWN TO EARTH BELIEVER
- DTEB, “Getting Christ and Ourselves Back in Focus” November 11, 2024“Col. 3:1 ¶ If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Col. 3:2 Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. Col. 3:3 For you have died, and your life is hidden […]
- “Search Me!” October 27, 2024“Psa. 139:23 Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! 24 And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting!” (Psalm 139:23-24, English Standard Version) I am participating in a Bible study, and this is a prayer […]
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- “God is in the Details” October 11, 2024“The devil is in the details.” (A general saying, often quoted by lawyers, reporters, and negotiators.) “God is in the details.” (Me, almost certainly not original.) “Luke 12:7 Why, even the hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not; you are of more value than many sparrows.” (Jesus) God does not micromanage, but God […]
- “Grandma’s Pump” October 8, 2024When I was a little critter, I would stay at my grandma’s house for a night or two sometimes. I liked this for a lot for many reasons. One thing I liked about staying with her was that Grandma’s house was much more technologically advanced than ours was. For one thing, she had indoor water—sort […]
- “Wearing the #14 Wrong-Side-Out” October 5, 2024Pete Rose, #14, is dead. Many of the old guys with whom I play softball watched him play and appreciated him greatly. I do as well. He was one of the greatest players who ever played the game. Yes, he admitted (eventually) to betting on baseball. But many of us still regard him as one […]
- “Passing Along the Love (and a Link)” October 4, 2024Several years ago, a friend of mine put me onto a daily meditation by Richard Rohr and friends. I don’t read them all the time, but I probably should. They are good! I thought that today’s writing was especially good, and I also figured that this would be a good way to post something. I […]
- “Witnessing Versus Being Witnesses” September 19, 2024“Acts 1:1 In the first book, O Theophilus, I have dealt with all that Jesus began to do and teach, Acts 1:2 until the day when he was taken up, after he had given commands through the Holy Spirit to the apostles whom he had chosen. Acts 1:3 He presented himself alive to them after […]
- “A Bathroom Prayer for Hurting Hands” September 11, 2024A week ago Sunday, my hands were hurting so badly at church that I went to the bathroom to run hot water over my hands. Arthritis perhaps, or carpal tunnel, or general orneriness—I don’t know why my hands hurt, but they do. They have for years. So, while I was running hot water over my […]
- “Waiting and Seeking” September 10, 2024“Lam. 3:19 ¶ Remember my affliction and my wanderings, the wormwood and the gall! Lam. 3:20 My soul continually remembers it and is bowed down within me. Lam. 3:21 But this I call to mind, and therefore I have hope: Lam. 3:22 ¶ The steadfast love of the LORD […]
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