Self-pity is a trap, a downward spiral. And it's such a LIE. I've caught myself lately entertaining thoughts that should have no place in my life, thoughts focusing on the negative things going on. And although there's nothing wrong with taking our burdens to the Lord and being honest with Him, it's a problem when it becomes a whining party of complaint and woe-is-me.
So again with my list-making.
For That Which I am Thankful:
relationship with God
family that loves me
friends
health
bed
shelter
clean water
enough food
showers
living in a place where I can freely worship God
use of my senses
ability to walk
breath in my lungs
education and the chance to further it
people's prayers
truth
church
books
opportunities to travel
memories/experiences
ability to speak
my own room
May this list grow every single day of my life.
"Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise." Psalm 100:4
I read this verse and I picture thanksgiving as a literal key that opens His gates. So think about what's at stake here: experiencing the presence and peace of God. We can't enter his presence with an ungrateful attitude or while we're wallowing in self-pity. Is our pity-party worth such a loss?
"Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; for his steadfast love endures forever." Psalm 118:1
If only we could come to a place where we could sincerely say with gratitude that no matter our circumstances, God has not changed; he is good and he always will be. I'm grateful that the Lord is not corrupt, cruel, egotistical, a liar... He is GOOD.
These blessings God graces our lives with are not just to make us happy. Gratitude is an opportunity to praise God for who He is. In his Letters to Malcolm Chiefly on Prayer, C.S. Lewis wrote, "I have tried...to make every pleasure into a channel of adoration. I don't mean simply by giving thanks for it. One must of course give thanks, but I meant something different... Gratitude exclaims, very properly, 'How good of God to give me this.' Adoration says, "What must be the quality of that Being whose far-off and momentary coruscations (sudden, striking displays of brilliance) are like this!' One's mind runs back up the sunbeam to the sun..."
I pray this encourages you to thank God for the blessings you've received and to wonder at the type of Being He is to have created them. Don't fall into the trap of self-pity. Cling to the truth of who God is, and thank him for it.
Absolutely! I think we don't consider it enough when we come in to church or worship times: that actually God is worthy of our praise because...well...He's God! But perhaps we need to encourage each other to get to know his character, and his promises, and his deeds, in order to grow in that realisation - that he is good, he is true, and he does mighty things. The reason why it should be possible to praise God joyfully despite what the real pains in our lives - we have a great high priest who has suffered more than any other, who now stands by the Father's side interceding on our behalf.
ReplyDeleteYES! totally agreed. thanks for your comment.
ReplyDeleteI LOVE the part about thanksgiving being an actual key to open the gates! Great thoughts, Shan.
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