Wake up with praise!
This morning at breakfast, I remembered a blessing from yesterday: Someone gave me a $5 off coupon just as I was checking out. I am thankful for that thoughtful woman!
Then I got another picture of the sunrise from Jim. Wonderful! (That’s the one above. Looks like a sunny rainbow!)
And hey, I can see! I can see colors in the sky! Praise God for my sight!
I have sweet pets around me that make me laugh and comfort me. I praise God for Goldie (my brick-like dog), for good old Mr. Darcy, and Tilly! I am so thankful for them!
Sam is happy wherever he finds himself, even in my newly-bloomed iris!
Praise God for my sense of hearing! Praise God for laughter! Praise God for music, and the musicians who share their gift! Praise God for Xander Stok, and his Project of Love!
And when I started to praise God for the things that are right, my mind began waking up to the possibilities. It became super-obvious that criticism shuts me down, and thankfulness opens me up!
A note of caution: I am not promoting blind optimism and simple thanksgiving. While that can help in the short term, it’s still not enough, for it’s easy to fall back into despair when my human mood changes.
Instead, I have a concrete hope in a person, in the Lord Jesus Christ, who is making all things new. The actual change happens in my heart, and then when my heart is soft and turned toward him, He blesses me. It is not done in my own strength, but in resting in God’s promises. He is the one Who gives me JOY! The joy of the LORD is my strength.
This morning, as I turned my heart back toward Him, I started to feel that “flow” that creative people talk about. I was prepared to be inspired, and I was! I felt I should share what he told me, so I wrote this down. That is how God works. He blesses us so much that we overflow, and then our blessing can bless someone else.
So, I REJOICE in the Lord! There is so much to be thankful for if I just look around with eyes that aren’t darkened by despair, and instead are lightened by hope!
So now, YOU be prepared to be inspired! If you make the decision to block out the things that cause you pain and anxiety, and instead become still, getting into the Word of God and focusing on God and his righteousness, life will open back up to you, and you will be unstuck and ready for action.
Look out, world, it–whatever it is–is about to begin! Have a wonderful day, my friends! Let the blessings flow, through you, and then on to the others around you! Remember, you are deeply and forever loved!
The Fullers Four 