Gratitude

“When I fed them, they were satisfied; when they were satisfied, they became proud; then they forgot me.” Hosea 13:5

Lord, keep me hungry enough to remember you are the source and supplier of everything I need… never too full or satisfied I forget it is from your gracious hands I have received.
Teach me humility so I will not become too dependent on myself that I forget You.  Surround me with opportunities to open my eyes, ears, heart and hands to those who are hungry and thirsty around me so they may see You.

BEWARE OF THE SLIPPERY SLOPE

This morning I was reading in 2 Kings 6 of when the enemy surrounded the city Elisha was in. Alarmed, Elisha’s servant, Gehazi, asked, “Oh, my lord, what shall we do?” I love Elisha’s response, “Don’t be afraid. Those who are with us are more than those who are with them.”
Elisha then prayed for the Lord to open Gehazi's eyes and he looked and saw the hills full of horses and chariots of fire all surrounding the city.

I don’t know about you, but when the enemy appears to be unrestrained and bringing havoc in my life or those I love, it becomes a task to keep my eyes focused on the unseen army of God. The fear and frustration the physical brings can overwhelm the faith and contentment only the spiritual can give.

This can become a very slippy road if our eyes are only focused on the natural. Asaph said it best when he wrote in Psalm 73, “…my feet had almost slipped; I had nearly lost my foothold. For I envied the arrogant when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.”
He continues to describe the carefree lifestyle the wicked live, the increase of their wealth, and jeering at God with no apparent consequences. He tried to understand how the wicked could prosper, but couldn’t. It is at this point many people would give up on God because they don’t see any retaliation from God to the wicked. “What’s the use” becomes the battle cry of the frustrated.

Not so with Asaph. He knew the key to this conflict: “When I tried to understand all this it was oppressive to me TILL I ENTERED THE SANCTUARY OF GOD; then I understood their final destiny.”
Asaph didn’t look to the natural but placed his trust in the One and True God and in His timing.
It was here, in the sanctuary of God, Asaph realized his heart was bitter that he was being foolish and ignorant to God. It was here, in the sanctuary of God, he realized God was holding and leading him; that no matter what happened to him God would forever be the strength of his heart.

As with Asaph, it is only when we enter the presence of the Living God and allow Him to invade our minds and hearts, to be the standard by which we measure all that is around us, we will ultimately see what evil has to offer—emptiness and destruction. In the presence of God we receive renewed hope and strength.
“But as for me, it is good to be near God. I have made the Sovereign Lord my refuge; I will tell of all your deeds.’” (vs 28)