The Road to Gratitude

I don't know about you, but sometimes I get a little anxious when things don't run smoothly or as expected. Other times, I am even overwhelmed by a series of "What-ifs." Certainly neither is helpful, and may even become stumbling blocks to being able to embrace what the Lord is trying to show us. In that way, little "annoyances" can accumulate and eventually seem insurmountable.

When we place our lives in Jesus' hands, He is far more able to do His finest work on our behalf. But to do so, that means first letting go of the clenched fists and the white-knuckle grip we have on every situation. It is vitally important to ask for whatever we need, then let go of control and angst so Jesus can take our hand. In this way, He is able to guide, protect, comfort - even save us from ourselves as he leads us to higher ground, while we concurrently praise Him with all of our being.

In actuality, Christian life is mostly about perspective and trust; looking for the best in people and situations, while trusting in God to work all things out for good. Yes, the road to gratitude is a windy path that reaps abundant, faith-filled benefits.

"Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. 6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." Philippians 4:5-7.

This Scripture tells us we are not alone; that Jesus is with us even as we go through our daily life, and especially as we face a plethora of challenges each day. It tells us to work to obtain peace in our hearts and minds and to present our requests to God, petitioning Him incessantly with thanksgiving - praising Him for what He has done, is doing, and will do in our lives. In essence, we are praying with a positive, hope-filled vision of things to come. This can take a great leap of faith to thank God for answering your prayers before He has answered them. Yet the benefits are blessed and expansive for doing so.

In life, there are certainly many things we can control. However, there is no sense in worrying about what is out of our control once we recognize what is beyond our reach. In this way, we are able to circumvent and even short-circuit worry, replacing it with prayer instead. It is always best to ask Jesus for His help and try to let it go with the understanding that he's got the situation (and you and your loved ones) covered. For divine intervention to occur, it is necessary to do your part, then step back, trust, and wait for God to move in your life - and He will - as He always shows up as only He can!

Leaving the outcome fully up to God, I often pray "Bless it or block it," as I lay it all in His hands and wait with great anticipation to see what He will do next. This often takes the sting of expectation out of waiting for me, allowing more fully for God's intercession in every circumstance. Though eloquent speech is not necessary with prayer, each of us has his or her own prayer-style. It is most important to remember that God will answer every prayer you offer in His own special time and way. Let your heartfelt prayers be a sort of dialogue with God as you pray, then wait to see how He answers you in the most amazing ways as you expect  miracles great and small, and lots of them!

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