Being on the race has made me realize I have a lot to be
thankful for. I come from a wonderful family that loves me more than I could
ask; I have always had a house to live in and bed to sleep in; I have never had
to miss a meal because I could not afford food; I have been blessed with great
friends that I have had for most of my life. The list could continue forever.
Psalm 126 says that the nations surrounding Israel looked at
their joy and said, “The Lord has done great things for them.” As I read this the
other day, I began to wonder if people around me see the work of the Lord
because of the joy in my life. In the same Psalm, it says of the Israelites,
“our mouths were filled with laughter, our tongues with songs of joy.” All of
these words were written about a nation who was continually struggling with the
nations and powers around them. Even in the midst of turmoil, the people around
them saw their joy.
Reading this Psalm prompted me to list the things from God
that I have to be thankful for. From the smallest gifts to the major
provisions, I realized just how much God has done in my life that I have to be
joyful about.
After sharing this with my team, we decided that over the
month of November, we would write down ways God has blessed us. Therefore, over
the month of November our squad is going to cover every day in thanksgiving to
God for what He has done for us. On Thanksgiving at our debrief, we are then
going to come together to worship and thank God as a squad for all the ways we
saw Him work in our lives.
I am so thankful for a God that continually amazes me in the
things He does for his children. I am blessed to be called a child of God, and
I hope that I can be filled with joy to show the nations that He has done great
things for me.
PSALM 126
When the LORD brought back the captives
to Zion,
we were like men who dreamed.
Our mouths were filled with laughter,
our tongues with songs of joy.
Then it was said among the nations,
“The LORD has done great things for
them.”
The LORD has done great things for us,
and we are filled with joy.
Restore our fortunes, O LORD,
like streams in the Negev.
Those who sow in tears
will reap with songs of joy.
He who goes out weeping,
carrying seed to sow,
will return with songs of joy,
carrying sheaves with him.
