07/16/2017

U Turn

" They were also to stand every morning to thank and praise the Lord. They were to do the same in the evening." 1 Chronicles 22:30

To me, the concept of thanksgiving and praise is similar to the U turn that I make on a street, when I realize that I am going on the wrong direction. It's easy to get enmeshed with the world. My boss can be in a bad mood, my coworkers insensitive, the clients too demanding, and before I know it, I am upset and angry. I do a google search for answers to a medical problem, and I end up in a complete panic that I might be dying from a severe condition. Not to mention relationships with my loved ones. Why can't they be perfect? Sometimes it takes hours or even days of misery, until I realize that I am on the wrong path. Luckily I have the option to make a U turn. I can turn from misery, to God, by means of thanksgiving and praise. "Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, and into His courts with praise. Be thankful to Him, and bless His name." (Psalm 100:4)

Thanksgiving and praise is the switch from, focusing on the world, to focusing on God. Not only that, but there are some other benefits:

• Human beings were created by God to praise Him. (Isaiah 43:7, Matt. 21:16). This is my primary purpose as a human being. When I praise and give thanks to the Lord, I am authentic, I am truthful to myself, and I embrace who I truly am, a child of the only, most powerful God. I don't have to follow the fashion, or the world's trends hoping to define or discover who I am. By praising God I am my own unique, authentic self.

• It helps me to appreciate things, and not take something or someone for granted. "The more often we see the things around us—even the beautiful and wonderful things—the more they become invisible to us. That is why we often take for granted the beauty of this world: the flowers, the trees, the birds, the clouds—even those we love. Because we see things so often, we see them less and less." ("Live in Thanksgiving Daily")

• It's God's will for me. It helps me to avoid the dangerous consequences of unthankfulness- bitterness with its companions: complaining and grumbling. I don't want to be in disagreement with God, and I certainly don't want to be a bitter, or a complaining person. "In everything give thanks; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus." (1 Thessalonians 5:18)

Lord, when our spiritual GPS tells us that we are heading on the wrong direction and we should make a U turn, help us to always listen to Your voice. Help us to change direction and come to you in thanksgiving and praise. You are our God, worthy "to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and praise!" (Rev. 5:12). We thank you Lord, for being such an awesome God!