Simplifying… me

Everyone seems to be in a perpetual state of thanksgiving these days.  At least, the people I have encountered on facebook.  A few days ago, as I scrolled through my facebook homepage, I picked up on a recurring theme in many of my friends’ status updates: thanksgiving.  They weren’t reminding the world that November is a month for giving thanks, but they were reminding themselves, by declaring to their friends, just how much they have to be thankful for.  At first I thought it was just another facebook fad, and I wasn’t going to jump on the bandwagon.  God knows that I’m thankful, and I don’t need to list my blessings for all the world-wide-web to see.

 

Then later, after further thought, I came to realize the power of stating publicly the things, people, blessings and provisions that so often I take for granted.  In a sermon a few weeks ago we were challenged to thank God for our daily bread; recounting the ways God has provided and continues to sustain us.  So profound has this exercise in breathing simple prayers of thanksgiving been to my personal faith walk that I was inspired to openly share my own words of thanks (even on facebook).

 

Sometimes getting started is the toughest part, especially when going through a “valley” experience.  Giving thanks comes more naturally to me when I am on the mountaintop of provision, miracles and easy living.  Counting blessings becomes more challenging when I am on a mountaintop of needs, and my natural reaction is a far cry from gratitude.  When I find myself weighed down with the burdens and cares of this world, struggling to see the silver lining, I look to Psalms.  If I can’t seem to muster up the words for myself, I turn to the words of the Psalmist and let them speak for me.  Eventually my heart is seized with the goodness of God – past, present and future – and what pours forth from my lips is nothing short of giant cornucopia of thanksgiving and praise.

 

Psalm 100 (NIV)

A Thanksgiving Psalm

 

Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth.

Worship the Lord with gladness; come before Him with joyful songs.

Know that the Lord is God.  It is He who made us and we are His; we are His people, the sheep of His pasture.

Enter His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise; give thanks to Him and praise His name.

For the Lord is good and His love endures forever; His faithfulness continues through all generations.

 

I love the translation of the Message version, which says this: “Bring a gift of laughter, sing yourselves into His presence.”  Praise and thanksgiving to God doesn’t always precede my feelings.  Many times I have to literally sing myself into His presence – recalling His promises and declaring them, even though I don’t feel it in the depths of my soul.  Once my proclamation of praise has been made, then my heart is ushered into the very presence of God that I have been longing for.  There comes the powerful conviction that there are not enough words to express my gratitude for how much I have to be thankful for.  God has been, is currently, and will be in the future, good to me, faithful to me – sustaining me, leading and guiding me.  He is my rock.  He is my strong tower.  He is my provider, my deliverer, the God who sees, the God who promises to never leave me or forsake me.  The God who supplies my daily bread, a warm home to live in, three vivacious and energetic children – reminders of a healthy family – the piles of laundry that remind me of how much excess we have, the washing machine that allows me to clean the latter, beds for sleeping and afternoon naps, and even the creamer in my coffee.  He is also the one who supplies the finances when we need a miracle, the wisdom when I don’t know what to do, the grace when confronted with a difficult person, and joy in the morning after a night of weeping. 

 

Just like the adorable paper cornucopia that Brooklyn brought home from school the other day – a wet gluey mess plastered with all her favorite things – I, too, have a sticky, messy cornucopia of thanksgiving that I offer to God.  I am grateful for the little things, I am grateful for the big things and I am grateful for the things yet to come. 

 

How has God been gracious to you?  What do you have to be thankful for?  If you are finding it difficult to pour out a heart of thanksgiving just now, remember Psalms.  Remember to “bring a gift of laughter and sing yourselves into His presence”.  Even if it is a broken song from a broken heart, God’s presence will envelop you and soon the praise will follow.  As in the words of David from Psalm 51: “O Lord, open my lips, and my mouth will declare your praise.”

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