Week 4, Day 2
Begin with two minutes of silence
Scripture : Psalm 107:1-3 MSG
“Oh, thank God—he’s so good! His love never runs out. All of you set free by God, tell the world! Tell how he freed you from oppression, Then rounded you up from all over the place, from the four winds, from the seven seas.”
Devotional: Emma Pagels
Children are not born with knowledge or understanding of gratitude and thankfulness. I remember opening Christmas gifts when I was little and being nudged by my mom, her reminding me under her breath to thank the person whom gave me the gift. Stopping to thank whomever gave me the gift was not my first reaction. Rather, typically, in excitement I would want to run off to play with whatever thing I had just been gifted.
I’ve realized that this attitude often get’s played out in my relationship with Jesus even still. Prayer often becomes a list of things I need, and when God comes through, instead of stopping to thank him I go right along on my way not even acknowledging what he just did for me. Acknowledgment is at the heart of confession. So, sometimes confession is simply to say, “Thank You.”
God isn’t obliged to do anything for me, yet he chooses to anyways. If my first reaction is to thank people for doing things for me, even the most little ones, why do I not do the same when God does something for me? I think that it may be because I remain unaware of the big and little movements of God’s hand in my life. Noticing where God is moving and working is a slowly learned skill and habit which takes work and repetition, yet this aspect of faith is incredibly important. The above Psalm is a reminder to fix your eyes on where God is moving and what he has done for us, to acknowledge it and then to take that and tell others.
Question for Consideration
Where am I aware of God’s hand in my life? Where am I unaware?
Prayer:
God, thank you for the goodness and forgiveness you faithfully pour out on for me day after day. You have pursued me, despite my flaws and self-centered tendencies. Increase in me awareness of your constant presence, and help me grow into a person of gratitude and thankfulness. Amen.
Close with two minutes of silence
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