Grateful Oakfeatured

Last week I began a series of devotionals on gratitude, acknowledging that the topic was not wildly creative for the month of November!  I suggested three tips, well, really four, on how to live as a grateful person. 

Yesterday afternoon while on a walk, I spent some time reflecting on how well I followed those tips and what impact they had had on my life during the past week.  I have to be honest, my results were not so stellar.  I really had kind of a blah week.  It wasn’t terrible, but I really wasn’t overflowing with gratitude either.  Let me do a tip by tip review.

Tip 1 – Remember how God has worked in our lives.  As I thought about my week, I really didn’t take the time to reflect on this.  I might have had a stray remembrance or two, but I didn’t take the time to really reflect on how He has shaped my life and blessed me way beyond what I deserve.

Tip 2 – Look for the blessings that are around us every day.  Again, my efforts were feeble and inconsistent.  I was too caught up in whatever chore, person, or situation that was in my face, to really look around me with fresh and expectant eyes.

Tip 3 – Tell people how much you appreciate them.  This was the one tip that I did follow through on – to a degree.  I did make a special effort to reach out to several people and express my gratitude.  It was a moving and enriching experience but as I think about it, there are many more for whom I am grateful that I didn’t contact.

Tip 4 – Thank God for His indescribable gift, Jesus.  Although I gave lip service to thanking God for His mercy and grace that are personified in Jesus, I didn’t spend the time to really focus on the magnitude and wonder of His provision for me and for you. 

As God gently revealed my shortcomings to me yesterday, He reminded me that there are no shortcuts when it comes to my walk with Him.  Spending quiet time with Him in the morning is wonderful, but in order to be a truly grateful person, I need to reach out to Him intentionally and consistently throughout my day.  I need His strength and His wisdom to shape and direct my thoughts all day long.

In His unfailing love, He revealed a solution to a problem that had been part of my “blah” week.  I had been stuck on a painting.  I knew it needed something, but I had no clue as to what that something was.  As I walked yesterday, He provided the solution.  His solution was to add a tree inspired by Isaiah 61:3, “They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the Lord for the display of His splendor.”

This verse started me thinking about Tip 4.  Because of the gift of Jesus, God sees me as righteous.  Without Christ, I am not righteous, thus not worthy to be in the presence of God (my last week is evidence!).  Romans 3:10 tells us, “There is no one righteous, not even one….”  Just a few verses later (v. 22) the Apostle Paul shares the good news, “This righteousness is given through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe.”   It is through Him, that God sees me as an oak of righteousness, regardless of how “blah” a week I had.  

If any of us gets the “blahs” this week, let’s remember that we are oaks of righteousness! That something to be eternally grateful for.  [jetpack_subscription_form]