Life pummels, back and forth, here and there
My reactions, if inspired by blasts and bangs
Would be flailing and wailing, endless lamentations.
Yes, I do wail. I do lament. Every once in a while.
But through all the bashing and sobbing
Praise rises from the bottom of who I am
Rising above who the world is knocking me into
Rising out of pain and shame and name calling
Rising above my fractures and failures
Revealing who I truly am despite my condition:
A richly grateful heart, besieged by life’s adversities
Through all the downs and turns and scrapes of life
Gratitude still finds a way in me
Praise still finds a way through me.
Food For Thought: Scripture encourages us to study to show ourselves approved as knowledgeable Ambassadors, who are transformed to practice Kingdom principles rather than follow the rampant lawlessness around. Where we come from, there are standard ways of dealing with situations. God expects that we overcome evil with good not shy or run away from it; that we meet lies with truth, injustice with fairness, curses with blessings, selfishness with godliness, hatred with love, betrayal with loyalty, hypocrisy with sincerity, offences with forgiveness, bitterness with joyfulness, wickedness with mercy, pain with kindness, disgrace with grace, great distress with amazing perseverance – Christ demonstrated that this is possible by His lifestyle. It is tough to go against the tide but that is why we are different, the more reason why we should not allow ourselves to be swept away by the evil that sweeps the world along. Whenever we look underneath problems, they weigh and drag us down but when we look above, we see God doing the impossible: we find grace lifting us far above them all. Where is your gaze focused; on all that ails you or on all that can become possible because of your faith in God? Where you look determines what you see and what you see determines what you do and what you do determines what you get. It might be time to change position don’t you think?
Scripture: Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice! Philippians 4: 4.
Prayer: Dear Lord, do not let life knock so hard it knocks praise off my lips: whatever my situation, may I always find room to serve my praises to You my King, amen.