I've just been on an amazing trip, and God blessed me over and over while I was away. I am so thankful for the opportunities I had, the places I saw and experienced, and the wonderful people I had the opportunity to meet. I understand how privileged I am to have been allowed to go. My gratefulness to God grows with each day I'm home as I reflect on the time I had there.
Now that I'm home, I know how easily I could embrace a mindset where I forget to thank God daily for what he gives me. Everything that is good that comes into my day is from my loving Father, and yet I forget to be thankful. It is disappointing to me to consider my ungratefulness and weakness in this area.
I was reading this morning in a little devotional I have called "Daily Strength for Daily Needs." It's a collection of scripture, poetry and prose by various writers. It was originally published in1904, and yet speaks volumes to me each time I read from it. It is such a gift to read the words of believers who lived so many years ago and to draw strength and understanding from their faithful walks with God.
The scripture for today was Psalm 103:2 -- "Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits."
ALL his benefits, great and small. Here is the reading for today:
"Into all our lives, in many simple, familiar, homely ways, God infuses this element of joy from the surprises of life, which unexpectedly brighten our days, and fill our eyes with light. He drops this added sweetness into his children's cup, and makes it to run over. The success we were not counting on, the blessing we were not trying after, the strain of music in the midst of drudgery, the beautiful morning picture or sunset glory thrown in as we pass to or from our daily business, the unsought word of encouragement or expression of sympathy, the sentence that meant for us more than the writer or speaker thought,--these and a hundred others that every one's experience can supply are instances of what I mean. You may call it accident or chance--it often is; you may call it human goodness--it often is; but always, you can call it God's love, for that is always in it. These are the overflowing riches of His grace, these are His free gifts." -- S. Longfellow
Please God, help me in my weakness to remember to give you thanks in all things. I don't want to overlook your goodness. Help me to see that the things that happen in each day that are pleasant, that make me laugh, that look beautiful, taste wonderful, sound amazing, and warm my spirit are not just happenstance, but are gifts for me, especially designed by your gracious, loving hand. Open the eyes of my heart to be aware of you in each moment. Thank you, Lord.
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