This morning as I woke up, for some reason I didn't feel like working out, I didn't want to get out of bed, I didn't really want to talk to anyone, for no reason at all. I told my teamMATES as we were on our way to our ministry site (the orphanage) that I felt like BLAH and "out of it" so if they could help me, in any way, that would be great. Again, I have no reason to feel this way and didn't really know why.
As soon as we got to the orphanage my team and I prayed and I told them I needed a little alone time with God. Once I sat on the top of the kids swingset (which is my favorite place to do devotions here)
I began to ask God to show me something and to be thankful for the little things in life and to somehow encourage me. Funny enough God answers prayers. yes!
I opened to Psalm 51 and read through it until something made me stop and disect the passage. I am now just going to type out exactly everything I wrote down this morning. My thoughts, prayers and rawness of it all..here it goes.
Sacrifice: The surrender or destruction of something prized or desirable. Putting something above my own. Getting rid of anything that could be put above the Lord. Put it on the altar and not look back.
Sometimes Thankfulness is a sacrifice.
It's hard to be thankful for all things, but even through the hard times,situations,people, place in life i'm at,sickness; let my heart be truly thankful. It's a sacrifice. When troubled times do come ask Him to be there and thank Him in advance. This is where all glory goes. He gives me my life. I don't even deserve to have everything together, to have a bed, to be well, to have all the clothes in my backpack, that I have an i-pod listening to worship music right now;but thankyou God that I do, and all I can do is thank you.
Each day I will remember this and it gives me joy that I have what I have, I have the gifts you've gifted me with and I'm truly blessed and excited.
Lord, you never cease to amaze me. I pray you are constantly teaching/showing me new things to intentionally be thankful for. Let me never be weary but have the glow of joy for you have blessed me with more. Change my heart daily, hourly, every minute to have your heart. Speak to me today! Show me something specific and let me be an encourager to my team, squad and family.
Psalm 50:23 says "Giving thanks is a sacrifice that truly honors me. If you keep my path, I will reveal to you the salvation of God." I thank you in advance that I keep your path, that is a narrow path, but because I hear your voice so clearly I have no where else to go. Lord, show me exactly what your salvation looks like. Thank you for teaching me, guiding me, talking to me, and being intentional with me. I love you Lord.
