Gratitude
As a wife, a mother, daughter, an ordained minister and a professional there are many words to describe who I am, but only one stands out above all the rest. To me this attribute drives my passion, and gives me focus in the midst of storms. My heart sings with joy, and my life shines in dark places that do not know God. Because of God’s longsuffering and faithfulness to me, everything I am now, everything I can accomplish, and all I am becoming is because who He is.
This word is GRATITUDE.
The gratitude I have toward the Father cannot be measured or compared to all the things He has done for me. King David wrote, “I have been young and now I am old, yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken or his descendants begging bread.” (Psalms 37:25 New American Standard Bible) Although I do not consider myself old, in this David communicates the depth of my heart toward my God and King.
One of the many reasons my heart is full of gratitude for the LORD can be seen in a familiar Scripture passage. “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ.” (Ephesians 1:3 NASB) This word “bless” in the Greek literally means, “to cause to prosper, to make happy, to bestow blessings on…with every kind of blessing…” The corresponding Hebrew word “bless” literally means, “to bend the knees” or “to kneel down.” Further, the act of kneeling is to give a gift. Our awesome God “blesses” us! In a visual sense the God of the Universe, kneels and gives us a gift! God who is the Almighty Creator, and Limitless One kneels and gives not at all to suggest inferiority but because His very nature is “giving” and because of His great sacrificial love for us. This is why I am grateful. I am more grateful than mere words can express. And my greatest desire to give glory to Him.
The Apostle Paul communicates this heart when he says, “For it is all for your sake, so that as grace extends to more and more people it may increase thanksgiving, to the glory of God. (II Cor 4:15, New King James Version) He completely understands that his ministry is to serve people because he was willing to become, “all things to all men, that I might by all means save some. “ (I Cor 9:22, NKJV) But, in II Corinthians his focus has turned to the ultimate goal; to glorify God. Paul desires that his ministry will give glory to the Almighty in everything; more than anything else. And Paul understands that as thanksgiving to God increases, so does God’s glory.
Through gratitude God is glorified because He is the focus. His goodness is made known and magnified to others when I am openly grateful to Him.
To live a life of gratitude is my focus. It is my passion. It is not enough for me to be a good wife, mother, ordained minister, daughter and professional. My life is not complete until this; through my life of gratitude and pursuit of God-given purpose all eyes are off me and on God for His glory to be revealed. Then, and only then, will my work be done.