The Lord often works on my heart during worship. Sunday was no different. I wrestled with Him once again over a pruned place in my life. So I sat down, and scribbled these notes…
There are times when a pruned place hurts deeply.
Initially, it was painful. A short time passed and it became bearable with a dose of perspective. But, in the long of long suffering, it begins to hurt again. It is a deeper hurt this time.
“Will it always hurt? Will there always be the twinge of pain?”
He absorbs that pain, I know, by His Grace.
But, I wonder Lord, “How do I honor You, while I am still desiring the very thing You saw fit to cut away?”
And then as soon as I take the next breath, I have my answer.
He whispers…”give thanks.”
Counting 1,000 Gifts…
#727 My church.
#728 3,000 served love in a box in 2 weeks time.
#729 Worship that works on my heart.
#730 How I can know Him because He chooses to reveal Himself to me.
#731 He is too awesome for me to completely understand.
#732 How Grace is peeling back the layers of my heart.
#733 Encouraging words when I’m weary.
#734 Learning something about myself that should have been obvious.
#735 Starbucks and Target are one stop shopping.
#736 Seeing results of hard work.
#737 My daughter being ready for her Bible Drill competition.
#738 A ticket to see these girls.
#739 Laughing at the same things with my husband.
That’s the answer, Stacey. I know Ann writes it beautifully. And I am sure many are having their lives changed as they practice it daily. I know that giving thanks is most often God’s key to opening the door for what He wants to do.
It is both simple and hard to do at the same time…but I’m learning it to be absolutely true! Thanks for your encouragement, Judy!
Stacey,
I know where you are, and I know how hard it is! You have humbled yourself, and in due time, He will lift you up! I just know it! Thanks for your honesty, dear friend, that makes it easy for a sinner like me to relate to you!
Thank you my very special friend for your encouragement. I love you!
I’m sitting here trying to finish Isaiah 57. These verses 15, 17-18, made me think of this post and your contrite heart. May God revive you, heal you, guide you, and restore you, and may he give you a voice of praise! What a great promise!
Sorry! Verses 15, 18-19! Not 17.
And sorry again–humble heart. Contrite was not the right word. Good night.
I love it all! Thanks Krystal, this is precious to me!
This is beautiful. It’s hard to see through our pain, to but our brokenness aside. But there is some spiritual dynamic that is released when we choose to give thanks despite it all. It is there that He meets us and fills us up with more of His grace.
So true Barbie, He does meet us. Thanks for sharing this from your heart. I’m truly blessed!