" For in Him we live, and move, and have our being, as also some of our own poets have said, "For we are also His offspring" (New King James Version)
From this verse the Lord showed me that everything about me, happens through Him and because of Him. Simply put, there would be no me without Him. In Him we live everyday in a whole that does not recognize Him. During the days where God was teaching me about His abundant grace, I read about the mall shooting in Nairobi, Kenya that killed over 60 people and wounded many, I read about the shooting at Washington D.C Navy yard that left 13 dead, and I even read about the church bombing in Peshawar, Pakistan that killed over 85 of God's people! These events happened within days of each other and I remember just realizing that I've been selfish with my thanksgiving because everyday is truly a gift! You and I are no better than the victims of these tragedies but grace stepped in on our behalf. The Word of God in Ecclesiastes says that time and chance happens to all (Eccle. 9:11-12) meaning that the mere fact that we are living in this world means we are open to the likelihood of these events happening to us, yet at times we fail to appreciate God's grace that takes us from day to day.
We, including myself, have grown to become entitled children that expect good things, but seldomly pause to say thank you. The best definition of God's grace I've heard said that grace is God giving us what we do not deserve. God does not owe us anything, yet He gives us everything! Once I started grasping the depth of God's grace, God now reminded me of the 10 lepers that were healed, yet only one returned to thank Jesus for the healing (Luke 17:11-19), but sadly, God is still asking the "where are the other nine?"question from verse 17. In this case, "the other nine" is referring to us, everyone who enjoys the grace of God, yet never return to say thank you. We know to thank God for promotions, anniversaries, birthdays, and graduate school admission, but what about occasions such as waking up, going to and from work, health, food, shelter, and everything else that is a part of daily grace? The Bible says "God is able to make ALL grace abound towards you, that you, always having sufficiency in ALL things may have an abundance for every good work" -2 Corinthians 9:8. God is asking all of us, do you really know how much grace keeps you? Do you know how many times grace has stood in the gap for you? Do you know how much grace it takes to keep you breathing while you sleep? Do you know how much grace keeps you safe on the highway? How many angels have God given charge over you to watch over you? The grace of God is not limited to the big things alone, so neither should our praise be limited to those things. There is no area of your life that God's grace does not touch. When we start to realize this we will develop a heart of gratitude and become like the one man with leprosy that came back to say "Thank you". That is my challenge now and I challenge you also to join me. Let us strive to become a people of God who acknowledge Him daily, so that thanksgiving becomes not just what we do sometimes, but who we are all the time. For all that You have done, all that You are doing, all that You have planned, and even if You don't do anything else, Lord we thank You.
Yorkamazing <3
T.M.V Psalms 124: 1-6
"If it had not been the Lord who was on our side, now may Israel say; If it had not been the Lord who was on our side, when men rose up against us:Then they had swallowed us up quick, when their wrath was kindled against us: Then the waters had overwhelmed us, the stream had gone over our soul: Then the proud waters had gone over our soul.Blessed be the Lord, who hath not given us as a prey to their teeth."
