A few months back my kids and I were walking through Deuteronomy and as we read through Deuteronomy 27, it occurred to me that Moses and the Israelites were told to make stone memorials BEFORE they entered the land that the Lord promised them. It made me pause.
Today I was listening to a podcast and Miles McPherson was referencing the scriptures speaking to the multiplying of the bread and the fish. He illustrated the fact that Jesus gave thanks to the Father BEFORE the miracle. Again, it made me pause.
How often do I get caught up in hoping for a miracle that I stop looking at the miracle giver. So frequently do I feel excitement and anticipation to walk into a promise that I forget to keep my eyes on the one that created it.
Why do I take his love for granted in such a way that I can look to him with my hands open when I have a need or the inkling of a promotion? Why is it hard to look upon him with thankfulness when we don’t KNOW if a miracle or promotion is in our hands?
I ponder if it is because I, and maybe some of you, doubt His goodness. We can see it in blessings, job promotions, declarations of health, and the birth of a long-prayed for child. But do we see His goodness in deaths, lost jobs, house foreclosures, or divorce?
If I give my entire life to my God, surrendering my entire bank account in preparation to live in the missions and I lose it, is He still good? Yes. My answer is yes, he is still good. He never promises us riches or long lives, but he does promise that he will never leave us. And he calls us to walk alongside him in the adventure of a lifetime. And in that adventure, we have to take risks. We have to be able to surrender it all. Full surrender means full gratitude for being chosen by the God of the universe. And for that, yes, I am thankful. I will choose to thank my God BEFORE my miracle.
Jacob's Ladder 