A Joyful Morning

How do we get in touch with the joy given to us by God? Moping about what I don't have or have lost doesn't seem to work. Moaning about what could be but is not hasn't worked. Dumping a load of guilt, shame, fear, or self-pity on myself fails miserably. Turning thoughts like that around to gratitude...hmm, could we be on to something there? Why, yes, I think that is reaching something grand and wonderful deep down inside! Does God like an attitude of gratefulness better than one of gloom and despair? It seems kind of obvious after the fact.

In researching the giving of thanks, or Thanksgiving, for next week's lesson, I found the place in the Bible where God institutes feasts. In each case, the event is one of joy. The rescue from slavery in Egypt, the wheat harvest, and the ingathering of produce at the end of the year. Gratitude was central to these celebrations for God's miracles, his guidance, provision, love, and help in times of trouble.

Throughout the Old Testament history, God comes down on the Israelites for grumbling. What is this grumbling? The opposite of what puts us in touch with our joy, ingratitude. We find it easy to list all the things we see wrong in this life. I spent a bit of time with a neighbor doing just that last night. It's no wonder I woke up this morning having trouble getting back in touch with my joy. The world is getting dark, but do we need to spend time together listing all those terrible things that happened yesterday, the day before, and a couple of years ago? My mistake! The Spirit of God is within me, time to change discussions such as that to the wonderful work of God in this world.

Many dark and dreadful things are happening here in this place. However, God is using those things to bring people to His Son. People lose hope in the institutions and powers of this world and they go searching for a hope that works. We have a hope within us, the kingdom of God. We have salvation, joy, peace, patience, kindness, and love, all gifts of the Spirit. We have a joy that endures, if we will gratefully get back in touch with it.

One week to our Thanksgiving celebration, a good time to roll out the gratitude to our Lord!

Bucky