Let’s face it, life is hard and the days we live in seem to be getting harder and harder. With global unrest, political unrest, inflation, the cost of living, not to mention our own personal trials and tribulations, it can be difficult to find anything good to dwell on. Yet the apostle Paul calls us to consider what is true, what is honorable, what is right, what is pure, what is beautiful, and what is worthy of praise.
Years ago I read a book by Ann VosKamp called 1000 gifts. It was a book that changed my life. The principle behind the book is to make your daily list All that you are grateful for, from a beautiful sunset, to the birds chirping outside, to the sun shining, and more. I think sometimes we think that only the “big things” are worth being grateful for, but the fact is that even the most insignificant moments that touch our lives throughout the day are praiseworthy. I think we can take for granted, especially when we are healthy, every breath we take, but is it less worthy of thanksgiving when we breathe just fine? Or, on the other hand, we may feel that all we can be grateful for in life is every breath we take. We can have a hard time being grateful for anything, especially when anxious thoughts paralyze us.
I recently read a poem in a Lifeguide Bible study I’m doing called “Business: Finding God in the Whirlwind” written by Juanita Ryan who wrote the poem after caring for an elderly friend. She witnessed her friend’s determination to take the few steps from her bedroom to her bathroom and how she treated each step as a gift. Her friend said at every step: “Thank you, thank you. » I’ll share a few excerpts here because I think it illustrates what it means to dwell on what is good:
“”THANKS. Thank you,” she said,
Offering you his sweet hymn of praise
With every step she took.
Ninety-seven, clinging walker,
While I held her,
She walked with grateful wonder
Like a child who takes his first steps with joy.
Each step is a gift, counted.
Walker stabilized and kept his body moving
As his thanks stabilized and anchored his spirit
In the flow of grace here and now…
“Thank you. Thank you.”
I find myself whispering to you
Again and again throughout the day,
Noticing how my eyes open to the outpouring
Of grace and blessing every moment,
As I feel carried away by the current of your joy,
How do I use the Gratitude Walker
To stabilize and anchor my heart and mind, body and soul
In your glorious presence with us here and now
“Thank you. Thank you.”
I was so struck by this poem. Here, this gentle woman, with a body bent and destroyed by age, aged 97, nevertheless found a reason to praise God. She dwelt on the goodness of God with every step she took, no matter how few and slow. She didn’t let anxious thoughts of all that she could no longer do invade her outlook on life, but instead she dwelled on all that was good in her life, here and now.
I have a framed quote on my desk (no author given), that says: “Be happy for this moment. This moment is your life.” The Lord Jesus came so that we might have abundant life. When we are overwhelmed by anxious thoughts, we rob ourselves of the abundant life He died for. Instead, dwell on all the good gifts that God places in your life every minute of every day. By developing the habit of seeking these gifts and cultivating a heart of gratitude in your daily life, you will overcome all your anxious thoughts. After all, they say that anxious thoughts and gratitude can’t occupy your mind at the same time. Apparently this is physiologically impossible. So why not fill your mind with gratitude and quell those anxious thoughts?
Let us overcome our anxious thoughts by always rejoicing in the Lord, praying with thanksgiving, and dwelling on what East GOOD.
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