This past month, I've been working on a school project that required a lot of planning, and a lot of volunteers working together to make it happen. I went through many frustrating late nights (actually, VERY early mornings) trying to plan through every detail I could think of in order to pull off a big day for all the willing people and I to get together and accomplish the bulk of the work. Although I had given the project to God many times, I had my doubts about whether it would work out or not. After putting in an 18-hour, non-stop, hectic day, I had accomplished all that I planned to and more. At the end of the day, looking around at everyone who gave so many hours of their time and worked so hard with no break, I thought I'd never be able to say "thank you" enough!
Have you ever had an experience like that? On the contrary, have you ever bent over backwards to help or bless somebody--whether you were asked to or not--and they didn't even show that they noticed? "Thank you" is such a simple thing to say, but it can really hurt when those words of appreciation are lacking...especially if a person has sacrificed a lot of themselves for another.
All this got me to thinking: When is the last time I was overflowing with thankfulness to God? He gave the ultimate--the greatest--sacrifice of Himself for us, and yet we tend to take for granted the most basic gifts that He gives to us on a daily basis. Sure, we all say we're thankful, but do we tell God "thank you" daily, good day or bad day? Even if we do say "thank you," have you ever gotten those butterflies in your stomach and been rendered breathless because you feel like you're going to explode with thankfulness? I think this is what David was talking about when he wrote,
"Shout for joy to God, all the earth; sing the glory of His name; give to Him glorious praise! Say to God, "How awesome are Your deeds!""(Psalms 66:1-3a)
"Sing aloud to God our strength; shout for joy to the God of Jacob! Raise a song; sound the tambourine, the sweet lyre with the harp." (Psalms 81:1-2)
"It is good to give thanks to the LORD, to sing praises to Your name, O Most High; to declare Your steadfast love in the morning, and Your faithfulness by night, to the music of the lute and the harp, to the melody of the lyre. For You, O LORD, have made me glad by Your work; at the works of Your hands I sing for joy." (Psalms 92:1-4)
"Oh come, let us sing to the LORD; let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation! Let us come into His presence with thanksgiving; let us make a joyful noise to Him with songs of praise! For the LORD is a great God, and a great King above all gods." (Psalms 95:1-3)
"Oh sing to the LORD a new song, for He has done marvelous things! His right hand and His holy arm have worked salvation for Him." (Psalms 98:1)
"Bless the LORD, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless His holy name! Bless the LORD, O my soul and forget not all His benefits." (Psalms 103:1-2)
"Oh give thanks to the LORD; call upon His name; make known His deeds among the peoples! Sing to Him, sing praises to Him; tell of all His wondrous works! Glory in His holy name; let the hearts of those who seek the LORD rejoice!" (Psalms 105:1-3)
Sometimes, I think, we don't feel like we have something worth feeling that way about because we don't look for it. God is always looking to show Himself strong to His people, and it is often in the little things--the details. God is a God of details, but we are a busy, fast-paced people, and often we are too distracted to really take time and look at the details. If you look hard enough, you can see God's hand in the smallest of things.
As people, I think we tend to shy away from feelings that are uncomfortable or unfamiliar. But feeling breathless because you suddenly recognize God's goodness to you is a good place to be. Though perhaps uncomfortable or unfamiliar, I think basking in that feeling is a good thing to embrace now and then. Taking a quiet moment to say "Thank you, God!" is a good practice to get into.
Take a moment now, and just stop. Breathe in deeply. Now breathe out. Breathe in again. You were just given an overwhelming blessing--another breath of life! We don't know how many more breathes we have before our time on earth is over. Let's all resolve to live overflowing with thankfulness and praise to God with whatever time we have left.
From my heart to yours, I want to extend a very special "Thank you!" to all of you who are supporting me in my endeavors!
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