October 5 - Maintaining a Grateful Heart Even When Times Are Good
Finding Your Creative Bones® - Daily 365 Day Devotional with Tangle © 2023 Cindy Rae Fancher, CZT
Do you forget to maintain a grateful heart when times are good?
When times are good, it is easy to become complacent. We can lose sight of the fact that maintaining a grateful heart is good for our lives and our souls. We may thank God for our blessings, but do we reach out with an open heart and plead that the Lord keep us in his grace? Time flies when life is good, and our humanness can creep up on us day after day. Perhaps we forget to pray and thank the Lord for his blessings, neglect to think of Jesus and the life-saving sacrifice he made for us, or stop hearing our inner voice, but the Holy Spirit is always ready to guide us. We are fickle in our fidelity. In good times, we can so easily neglect our responsibility and privilege to seek God in all ways and times.
In Jeremiah, God spoke to Jeremiah, telling him of his responsibility to talk to all the nations of the Lord. He also calls us, for we are all apostles saved by the blood of Christ. We are called to tell others of Jesus's saving grace. You will face challenges in your way, just as we are blessed with different gifts. For one, it may be preaching in the pulpit, another at their workplace being the example of grace by their actions; for another, it could be baking cakes for celebrations infused with prayer for the celebrants and all present. There is a way for each person, for God said.
But the Lord said to me, Do not say, I am a child: for wherever I send you, you are to go, and whatever I give you orders to say, you are to say.
Have no fear because of them: for I am with you, to keep you safe, says the Lord.
Then the Lord put out his hand, touching my mouth; and the Lord said to me, See, I have put my words in your mouth: (Jeremiah 1.7-9 Bible in Basic English (BBE))
Prayer:
Lord, you called, and I am answering. I trust that my skills and gifts will be used to bring others to your precious Son and, therefore, to you. Sometimes I accept this grace and mission with fearlessness; other times, with trepidation. But I know you are my strength, and I will accomplish your goals with you. Remind me, Lord, to pray in all times, good and bad. Remind me you are there waiting, ever-present and joyful, and that I am part of Team Jesus. I am filled with your joy and the peace of knowing I have a goal, a mission for my life. You are the true Lord, and I thank you for calling my name today and every day. In Jesus' name, I pray. Amen
a tangle originated by Emiko Kaneko, CZT®
Word of the Day
FIDELITY
Lord, I know you are my strength, and I will accomplish your goals with you.