Last night as I was preparing for bed, I
had the wonderful idea to get up and go running this morning. Why? I
don’t know. Anyway, I was resting
peacefully in my bed when this horrible sound jolted me awake and shot
adrenaline through my veins: as any good mobile phone alarm clock should. After scrambling to find the phone, bumping
the nightstand, and squinting to hit snooze, I was awake. So, I roll over for 9 more minutes of peace
just to experience that all over again.
So, I finally get out of bed. I’m tired.
Honestly, I’m really tired and want to go back to bed, but muster up the
strength to go out and punish myself on the road of life, also known as Perry
Crossing Road by the Indiana Department of Transportation.
Outside, I stretch and notice that
once again the kids didn’t close the garage door after playing
yesterday. Arrrgggh. So, I’m off to a great morning to jog and
talk to the Lord. As I began to jog and
pray, I became pretty convicted of all that I take for granted.
My garage door was open all night, as it
has been several times in the last few years, and nothing was missing, no one
was attacked, nothing happened. I was
reminded of going on a mission trip in India a few years ago where houses are surrounded
by concrete walls topped with broken glass and jagged metal, and friends in
Africa whose home had been pillaged. So,
here is a brief list of some of the things that I took for granted as I
prepared to sleep last night and woke up aggravated and tired before the day
began.
· Reasonable security, safety, and freedom
· Loving family, healthy kids, and faithful wife
· A home with electricity, air, comfortable bed, soft towels, and hot water
· Ability to go jogging
· Being born in an environment where I would be continually exposed to the gospel
· A reliable car
· Clean running water, food, etc.
The list could go on and on. I do not acknowledge and appreciate these
things. I take them for granted. I’m no different than the Israelites who in
the Old Testament constantly missed the provisions of God and focused on that
which they did not have. That’s me. I take what I’ve been given for granted and
focus on what I don’t have. As a result,
I find myself complaining a lot versus walking in an attitude of thankfulness
(Eph 5:20).
Prayer:
Merciful Father, please forgive me for
taking your gifts for granted. In your
kindness, you have allowed me so many luxuries that I treat as
entitlements. I’m sorry. Adjust my eyes that I might see your gifts
and kindness more clearly, and transform my heart that I might be consistently
thankful for them. Shift my eyes off of
that which I don’t have and on to your faithful provision of my needs. Then, in those moments that my heart longs
for that which I don’t have, may you remind me of all that I do and remind me
that those things may be kept from me so that I might remain more dependent
upon you and faithful to you. Would you
remind me that you want me to be holy and satisfied with you and not
temporarily appeased by the attachments of this world. Oh God, create in me a thankful heart.
I really needed this reminder today! I quickly forget how light my burden is in comparison to so many others. I also have the joy of knowing that my burden is not mine alone that my heavenly father asks me to give it over to him and surrender it to his care. No one is more able to handle all the big and little things in my life then my Father.
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