Philippians 4:6-7 (NIV)
“Do not be anxious about
anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with
thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of
God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your
minds in Christ Jesus.”
“God, thank You for creative minds that make creative things…”
This part of my son’s nightly prayer brings a smile
to my face. More importantly, I know God smiles too. My son is thanking God not
for his own unrealized gift, but for others’ gifts – for his favorite authors
and the books they write, for the makers of the LEGO® blocks
he plays with, for the
special-effects gurus he appreciates in the movies he loves, and for the
artists who design the masterpieces he admires. I am convinced my son’s
thankful and humble heart is the foundational reason he is one of the most
imaginative people I know. Some people watch him and see a boy who could dance
across Dr. Seuss’s giant
footsteps with his own version of crazy creative.
Ann Voskamp, author of the book “One Thousand Gifts,” attests that “thanksgiving
precedes the miracle.” She bases this on Paul’s
writings in Philippians:“Do
not be anxious about
anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with
thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of
God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and
your minds in Christ Jesus.” Ann makes
numerous biblical references
in her book – to Jesus
thanking God before the five loaves of bread feeds thousands, to Jesus thanking
God that He had heard Him before raising Lazarus from death’s grip, and to Jesus
thanking God during the Last Supper, just before the miracle of His resurrection. Jesus taught us throughout
the Scriptures to give thanks
before the miracle.
Am I thankful enough … thankful
enough for these kinds of miracles? I think this is a valid question. Those other “good enough” questions –
they uncover lies, insecurities, unfaithfulness, pain, or pride. Am I pretty enough? Am I successful
enough? Am I smart enough?Am I doing enough? When I ask these questions, the focus is on me, my
weaknesses, my selfish goals, and my past hurts.
However, I think the question
- Am I thankful enough? - uncovers a heart running after God’s peace and His miraculous blessings. A heart
focused on God’s promises, our identity in Him. A heart that understands
the true meaning of grace.
Grace is undeserved favor or kindness – a
generosity of spirit, if you will. Grace is the one aspect of Christianity that
separates it from all other religions.
Grace came to earth as a baby lying in a dirty manger surrounded by
stable animals. Grace was betrayed and beaten. Then, Grace hung on the cross
for me, solidifying my place in eternity. Am
I thankful enough for it all?
I listen to my son thank God every night for what
seems to me to be the smallest of things. But it’s not just the authentic
thanksgiving of an 8-year-old that amazes me. It’s the order of his
prayers. “Thank You for creating me.
Thank You for looking after my mom when she was in Haiti. Please keep looking
out for everyone still in Haiti. Thank you for a great day today. Please help
me have a good day tomorrow. Thank you for taking care of Simamkele and Milani
(the two boys we have sponsored through World Vision). Please continue to take
care of them.”
Do you see the pattern? Without knowing what he is
doing, my little boy first thanks God and then asks for His blessings. I am
never surprised when my son’s prayers are answered with a resounding yes! I have learned so
much through my child’s authentic and grateful prayer life. Crazy creative as
he is, he is also tackling his prayer life with the faith of a child and the gratitude of one thousand saints. I need to
do the same.
What miracle could be waiting for me? For you? When
an unexpected diagnosis shatters our world, thanksgiving precedes the miracle.
When children argue, disobey, stray from God, or seem distant … thanksgiving precedes the miracle.
When jobs are lost and financial insecurity threatens … thanksgiving precedes
the miracle. When marriages begin to implode and we feel we live with roommates
instead of doing life together as spouses … thanksgiving precedes the miracle.
Am I thankful enough to see all of God’s miracles?
I pray so…
© 2013 As A Clay Jar. All rights reserved.
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