Saturday, November 3, 2012

Thankful?

Make thankfulness your sacrifice to God, and keep the vows you made to the Most High.  Then call on  me when you are in trouble, and I will rescue you, and you will give me glory.
                 ~Psalm 50:14-15


Am I really thankful? Am I truly living a life of gratitude? 

I read this verse in a devotional during the first hour of November (being the night owl that I am).  And it occurred to me that it was quite appropriate...especially given my normal attitude about Thanksgiving.

Honestly, I'm unsure what to think about you, Thanksgiving.  
You guilt-trip me, reminding me of every-American-thing I have that I don't deserve.
You remind that I only have one month to finish Christmas shopping.
You feel awkward, when my family sits and eats and tries to follow the Turkey day norms.
You make me roll my eyes as I read yet another blog post about you.

But what does Thankful truly mean?
Does it mean begrudging love, law-required obedience, doing good works because I should try to show that I am thankful for the cross?

Or...is it the greatest sacrifice?  
Sacrifice is the purest ritual, a cleansing of the heart.
Sacrifice requires the whitest lamb...
Sacrifice that God prefers is thankfulness.
A heart that clings so close.
A heart that knows no one else.
A heart that will not leave the promises in the pew.
A heart that knows one cry--"Rescue me!"
A heart that brings Him glory.

Scripture, right here, is saying something INCREDIBLE.
Just look at this! Thankfulness is not about us.
Thankfulness is what we give to Him, through living for Him, through trusting Him, through calling out to Him, through bringing Him glory.

Where I am in that?
I have faded into the shadows, where I belong.
Because the me that I want to show isn't me at all.

It's my thankfulness sacrifice, my promise, my plea, and His glory. 

~Elissa~
“In living we die, in dying we live.” 
--Ted Dekker

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