One of my goals in starting this discipline of thankful things was to be able to be thankful for the things that I didn’t like, too. I knew that God called me to it (He put that on my heart when I read Corrie ten Boom’s The Hiding Place), I just wasn’t there yet. God honors discipline and faithfulness; today, I caught a glimpse of that kind of thankfulness.
I am thankful for the pain that God allows in my life - because He allows it. The very fact that He allowed it means that He is using it to conform me to the image of His Son. (Romans 8:29)
It brings to mind a scene from the movie Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves. Robin Hood and his men came upon Friar Tuck and asked for a “donation” of his beer. Since his beer was something he held very dear, he refused and tried to escape with it in his cart. In return, Robin Hood and his men harnessed him to the cart in place of his horse and made Tuck haul it back to their camp. After pulling the cart that whole way, Friar Tuck said, “Thank You, Lord, for teaching me humility.”
It’s a bit of a comedic moment, but it’s so exemplary of the attitude that we should have. Tuck knew what God was teaching him, and there are definitely times that God shows us. There are also times when He doesn’t. I don’t always know how God is using my pain - whatever type of pain that may be - but I do know that it is always for the good of His children (including me) and His glory. (Romans 8:28)
To live in Christ is Victory.
I love stepping outside, oblivious and lost in thought, to be surprisingly and pleasantly confronted by the smell after the rain. It catches my attention, much like walking in the door to smell fresh bread in the oven. While inside, I don’t usually notice the weather, so, even if I might have known of the presence of rain, I am not brought to think about it until suddenly confronted with that delicious smell.
I love the Rain. The very thought of rain can bring a smile to my face, and its presence often stirs a childlike delight. Smelling the fresh, clean, and vibrant scent that it leaves often puts a twinkle in my eyes, along with the mild hope that it hasn’t left for the day, but will return shortly.
I am thankful for the smell after rain, that God has fashioned me to delight in it. Not only does my delight in His Creation bring Him glory, but bringing Him glory gives me fulfillment in Christ.
At night, I can see the road lines by the light of my car’s headlights, but I couldn’t see the lines nearly as easily if it weren’t for the little reflectors placed periodically along those lines. I think I am most thankful for road reflectors in the rain. If it’s daytime and raining, the lines tend to disappear under the sheen of reflective water on the road. The reflectors, however, cast back a focused point of light that is easy to see.
It is the strangest feeling to be driving along and then not to be able to see the road lines and simply hope that you’re in the right place. It’s a bit scary. I am thankful that God created light to reflect on certain things, and that we can thus use light to more clearly (and safely) mark our roads. God's foresight in creation is amazing to consider.
I have been trying to exercise a bit more self-discipline in life lately. I have general plans (a walk during lunch, somewhat smaller portions and fewer sweets, a longer quiet time in the Word at night, taking my thoughts captive throughout the day), but haven’t been very good about sticking to them. So I am working on being more intentional and have stepped up my self-discipline a notch to stick to them more frequently.
It is a wonder what God does when you are faithful to His will. I haven’t been at this “heightened” level very long in each of the aforementioned areas (which honestly isn’t a whole lot more discipline), but I can feel the difference nonetheless. I have only been walking briskly when I exercise on my lunch break, but God has worked through that so that I physically feel confident enough to run for a short time without nasty consequences. My meal portions have been only slightly less, but my stomach hasn’t really felt unnecessarily bloated. I rarely miss a night in His Word, but it’s usually just a chapter without much time for prayer and Meditation, yet God has enabled me to focus more on what I read in the Word and to hold onto its message longer. When I remember to take “...every thought captive to the obedience of Christ...” (2 Corinthians 10:5) during the day, I see a tremendous rise in my mood.
So if this is what God does when I’m only putting a little more effort in... what amazing things will He do when I truly give Him all of myself? Self-discipline isn’t the easiest thing to go “all in” on cold turkey, and I think that’s why God honors that little bit more faithfulness that we give to Him with even more of His goodness. If I couldn’t see any good results of my improved self-discipline, I think I would lose the fire to do better.
Some of my lack is simply where I am in my walk with the Lord in Progressive Sanctification as He molds me to be more like Him. That’s alright, because His “‘...grace is sufficient for [me], for power is perfected in weakness.” (2 Corinthians 12:9) Yet, I also need to ask myself if I’m truly “all in,” giving Him my best. Do I let myself laze about a bit, or do I “...discipline my body and make it my slave, so that... I myself will not be disqualified[?]” (1 Corinthians 9:27)
I often forget that, as a follower of Christ, I am daily in a pitched battle. One cannot win a battle with half-hearted effort. It takes self-discipline, and God has given us His strength to win each battle: “...but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it.” (1 Corinthians 10:13)
I am thankful for the goodness He has shown me in my little bit of faithfulness, that it has spurred me to want to be more self-disciplined, so that I can be of better use to Him. That is the joy of following God.
I just had my annual evaluation at work today, and was glad that it was quite favorable. One thing I appreciate about my coworkers and bosses is that they show their appreciation for the work their employees do, but they also look for ways that we can improve. They - as I - hold the idea that there is always room for improvement. They don’t tell us in an accusatory or critical manner; it’s constructive criticism, with the intent of actually helping us. This, too, is much appreciated.
I am thankful for the added perspective that an evaluation can bring, for both the praise and the criticism. It is also helpful in life to evaluate myself. Am I doing my best? Where can I improve? Or... am I spending as much time as I need to in the Word? Such questions are good to revisit every so often. While I have improved in the amount of time I am spending in the Word, I’m still not where I’d like to be, and I can be working on that.
Thank You, Lord, for evaluations and the resulting improvement.
My little man waved goodbye to me this morning unprompted for the first time. That was pretty special. He even walked into his grandma’s house earlier, waving, “Hi,” unprompted (instead of asking for a Movie). Unfortunately, she wasn’t actually there to see it. Maybe he’ll repeat the feat in a couple days.
There are all sorts of different waves. I thanked a driver for letting me onto the freeway this morning with a wave - and he waved back (a rare and welcome occurrence). We can wave people over to us, wave people to move ahead of us... there are many uses of the gesture.
I am thankful for the communication of the wave - a brief expressive gesture that can brighten the day. I have been seeing more of God around me lately, and I have a hard time not smiling. Each little thing - like a wave - reminds me again and again of God’s presence and sovereignty. God makes me smile.
There isn’t much distance between my washer and dryer and my bed (which is my folding surface), but without a laundry basket, something will inevitably drop from my arms as I carry the clean clothes to my bed. Laundry baskets are one of those rather cheap things that just make life easier; more than worth it!
As a child, I enjoyed hiding under my mom’s laundry basket. The older I got, the more it was a game to see if I could still fit. Now, with my year-and-a-half old son, I have a new and different way to play with a laundry basket. My mother’s was wicker, but mine is plastic, making it slide easily on the carpet; Little Man enjoys roller coaster rides in our laundry basket.
I am very thankful for my cheap plastic laundry basket. Not only did God provide that small amount of money to get it, but He orchestrated the cheap price, so that it didn’t take as much of His money to purchase it. Our whole family enjoys and appreciates its use.
What simple - perhaps cheap - thing has He given you?
