BE GRATEFUL
How many of us have prayed to God for different things, and you’ve seen it come to pass? I am a living testimony to this and words cannot express how blessed I am, including the “small” blessings we tend to overlook. Typically when we get the things that we have prayed for, in that very moment we show a lot of gratitude and awe for what God has done and how He’s moving, but that eventually fades away and we are back to operating in our flesh, leading to discontentment and a lack of gratitude, and if you say you haven’t done this you are absolutely WRONG!
I remember when I moved into my second apartment, I was so overwhelmed with joy because for one I was moving in by myself and two I knew that it was a blessing because of my circumstances at that time. I had been praying and asking God to put me in a place that was affordable so I did not have to have another roommate, along with having a leasing manager who was nice. Mind you I still live in the same place, and everything I prayed for exceeded my expectations, but only for a while.
When I started really getting comfortable here, my gratitude turned into complaining. I wanted to move to another apartment complex that fit my bougie. Sounds superficial I know, but I was dead serious. I wanted a place that had stainless steel appliances, hardwood floors, bigger bathroom, so on and so forth. I began to lust after what I didn’t have and get frustrated because I was trying to live up to someone else’s standard, totally disregarding everything that God had done and provided.
When you go from thanks to complaining its a slap in God’s face for what He’s done in the past, and faith in what He can do in the now, and future. Dissatisfaction comes when we shift our attention from what we have to what we don’t have and that’s a dangerous place to be in, so tread lightly. I began to overlook at all the many blessings bestowed upon me because I wanted more. Ignoring the facts that I live right in front of a school so the area is really safe, the area is quiet, rent is super affordable, I’m close to more than one shopping plaza, I’m in a great location and can get to everything in a good amount of time, when I have maintenance issues they are fixed the same day if not within a few days, etc.
When I realized what I was doing, I immediately stopped and asked for forgiveness. I began to think and ask myself who am I to be greedy and lust after these things when I’ve already got so much. The bigger question was, how can I expect the Lord to bless me with more, when I can’t even be grateful for the things I have now? Luke 16:10 says, “One who is faithful in a very little thing is also faithful in much…” and that’s something I want you to think about the next time you find yourself being ungrateful.
How can God trust you with more, if you are not even satisfied with what He is doing in your life currently? And if God never blessed you with anything else would you still be content, offer up praise, and show thanks? When you ask yourself these questions and answer them, you’ll see where your heart is.
Be Blessed Y’all!