I love the last three words of this passage of scripture.
Walking in Christ looks like abounding in thanksgiving. Walking in Christ results in abounding in thanksgiving.
That is how I would ultimately desire to be seen…as one who abounds in thanksgiving.
My life is not always characterized by thanksgiving, but how I want it to be! That’s the goal.
I will never achieve that goal on my own and in my own strength. No, I have to allow the Spirit to work within me to abound in thanksgiving. I also have to live with purpose, intentionally seeking out gratitude and constantly looking for blessings to count as MINE.
These are the blessings I am counting right now…
341. coffee and conversation with friends
342. independent workers
343. craft night
344. yoga class
345. hot green tea on a cold afternoon
346. Jenny’s fever is gone!
347. watching live streaming of our worship service
348. Elizabeth Anne reading to Jenny before bed
349. Will’s prayers for characters in his book
350. taxes filed
351. hearing, “Mommy, I want to be you!”
352. quiet moments of rest and reflection
353. Jenny’s play date with her friend from co-op
354. walking the aisles of Michael’s
355. lunch out with the big kids
356. moving from anger and disappointment to peaceful resignation
357. a phone call with a friend I miss so much
358. walking the first and grime off the car
359. a Bible Study for the Lent season
360. early bedtimes
361. waiting
That last blessing may just be one of the hardest blessings I’ve ever counted. We are in a season of waiting right now and, honestly, waiting has been a real struggle for me.
So much of our life as a military family revolves around waiting. Right now, we’re waiting to hear what our next assignment will be. I’m finding myself anxious and impatient.
This morning, in a moment of stressing over the waiting, I heard a gently whisper in my spirit that IF I am to count even the hardships of life as a blessing, IF I choose to count it all JOY, then I need to count this waiting as a blessing.
Writing that down was a challenge. It’s a challenge of faith.
It’s depending on God to meet my needs even in this season and trusting that He has a much greater plan than I.
Because He does!