Being Thankful...

 have sinned like our fathers, We have committed iniquity, we have behaved wickedly. —Psalm 106:6

Each of us can identify, I think, with the sins of the Israelites.  As for me, I say with David:

Do not withhold Your tender mercies from me, O LORD;

Let Your lovingkindness and Your truth continually preserve me.

For innumerable evils have surrounded me;

My iniquities have overtaken me, so that I am not able to look up;

They are more than the hairs of my head;—Psalm 40:11-12

We are guilty like they were of forgetting...

They did not remember the multitude of Your mercies,

But rebelled by the sea--the Red Sea.—Ps 106:7b

I, like God’s chosen, do not remember the multitude of His mercies, I forget His kindnesses and His endless gifts of grace.  I esteem them lightly and forget to be thankful. And therein for me lies the antidote for “forgetting”.  Thankfulness.   I have in the past made a practice of “putting it on” but I have of late sadly fallen out of practice.  I am thankful for friends who come alongside and speak back to me my own words and encourage me to count His graces.  

It is such a grace to count graces...to purpose in my heart to be thankful...to give thanks in everything; and remember that being thankful in everything and for everything is the will of God in Christ Jesus for ME!  There is so much in my life that crowds out the simple act of thanksgiving from my purview.   Here is what helps me to place it front and center.  I use an alliteration to help. 🙃

“Purpose and Practice”

First, I have to purpose “to see” His graces and then again “to practice” being thankful for them. I began purposing and practicing about 10 years ago by bringing my camera with me everywhere.  It helped me focus and frame (another alliteration) my thinking toward thanksgiving.  As a bonus God blessed me with pictures that have helped me recall his kindnesses to me over the years and also by the people close to me catching the same spirit of thanksgiving.  Today I will again purpose by His Spirit who lives in me to see His manifold kindnesses to me and remember to practice and offer a sacrifice to my God of praise and thanksgiving for each of them.  I encourage you to do the same.  Looking at yourself will cause you to sink and lose perspective...instead look to Him and remember grace.  

And of His fullness we have all received, and grace for grace.—John 1:16

Praise the LORD!

Oh, give thanks to the LORD, for He is good!

For His mercy endures forever.

Who can utter the mighty acts of the LORD?

Who can declare all His praise?—Psalm 106:1-2