Posts Tagged: gratitude for the good things happening to others
“LOVING BEING GRATEFUL
“thank God no matter what happens. This is the way God wants you who belong to Christ Jesus to live.” (1 Thessalonians 5:18, The Message)
Even when I give thanks, I can be selfish about it. Let me explain.
I often give thanks for what other people have done, is doing, or will do for me. I give thanks for what God has done, is doing, or will do for me. I give thanks for good things that have happened, are happening, or will happen for me.
Did you catch the little prepositional phrase at the end of each sentence in the preceding paragraph: “for me”? It is less selfish to give thanks than it is to pretend that we are self-made and self-blessed. However, it still seems like a low-grade form of selfishness. And a low-grade form of selfishness is like a low-grade fever—a sign that all is not well. I did not realize this until God got my attention this morning, and I actually obeyed. Obedience is a wonderful Bible study tool!
So, this morning God challenged me to give thanks for some good things that other people are experiencing or doing. Several people from my life group came to mind, and also a friend at the University who just passed the viva for his PhD.
After listing several things for which I was grateful that had nothing to do with me directly, I felt the joy of the LORD sweep over me. So, my next item on today’s gratitude list was as follows:
“Gratitude lists. How I’ve come to love doing these things! They help get me out of the hellish echo chamber of my mind.”
I also thought of Paul saying, “Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn.” (Romans 12:15) One aspect of this rejoicing is being thankful for good things that have nothing to do with us.
No matter how badly things seem to be going for me, or really are going for me, I can find some good things happening to others for which I can be profoundly grateful. There is a boundless supply of grist for gratitude.
DOWN TO EARTH BELIEVER
- “Even a Sliver of Light” April 9, 2024“For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.” (2 Corinthians 5:6, English Standard Version) I missed the total eclipse yesterday. There were a number of good reasons for this, but […]
- “The Process in Miracles and the Miracle of Process” March 11, 2024“2 Kings 5:1 Naaman, commander of the army of the king of Syria, was a great man with his master and in high favor, because by him the LORD had given victory to Syria. He was a mighty man of valor, but he was a leper. 2 Now the Syrians on one of their raids […]
- “The Power of Encouragement—Even for Old People” March 10, 2024“But encourage each other every day while it is ‘today.’ Help each other so none of you will become hardened because sin has tricked you.” (Hebrews 3:13, New Century Version) Yesterday, I was walking at a nearby park. There was a large group of young people some of whom were running while other young people […]
- “Endurance” March 10, 2024“For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God you may receive what is promised.” (Hebrews 10:36, English Standard Version) “Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us […]
- “The Limits of Non-Judgmentalism” February 24, 2024“Matt. 7:1 “Judge not, that you be not judged. Matt. 7:2 For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you.” (Matthew 7:1-2, English Standard Version) This morning, in my virtual 12-step meeting, we discussed the topic of judgmentalism. There were many wise […]
- “Delighting in Being Told What to Do?!?” February 23, 2024“Psa. 112:1 Praise the LORD! Blessed is the man who fears the LORD, who greatly delights in his commandments! 2 His offspring will be mighty in the land; the generation of the upright will be blessed. 3 Wealth and riches are in his house, and his righteousness endures […]
- “Character is the Real Lesson” January 19, 2024I am often confused about what lesson I’m really supposed to be learning. For example, this morning I was trying to knock out several Spanish lessons. My intentions were a lot better than my internet connection. I’ve done three lessons. Or rather, I’ve done two lessons. One of them I did twice because the internet […]
- “The Year of Becoming Un-Planked” January 1, 2024Each year, I try to come up with one word or a short phrase for what I intend to work on in the upcoming year. 2024 is “The Year of Becoming Un-Planked”. What?!! What does that even mean? So glad that you asked! Jesus said to his disciples, “Why do you look at the speck […]
- “Searching for the Noble One” December 26, 2023My wife and I were reading Luke, chapter 2 on Christmas Day. Luke 2 talks about the shepherds being told to look for this very special child—in fact, this King—in a stable. I prefer the word “barn”. I grew up on a farm. I know what a barn is. A stable is entirely too biblical […]
- “That Don’t Impress God Much” December 14, 2023DTEB, “That Don’t Impress God Much” “That Don’t Impress Me Much” (Song by Robert John Lange and Shania Twain) Micah 6:8 (MSG) “But he’s already made it plain how to live, what to do, what God is looking for in men and women. It’s quite simple: Do what is fair and just to your neighbor, be […]
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