Memos from the Middle

Everyday Thanksgiving

Father, when I have a choice to honor and obey or take any other path, let my choice always be You. Let my ambition be to delight You. Keep challenging me to choose You, but also keep ordering my steps. Light the way, Lord, and teach me to stay the course in You. In the matchless name of Jesus, I pray! Amen

When I wrote this prayer yesterday in my journal, I did not know that the toilet in my bathroom (the only one in my house) would malfunction less than 24 hours after the contracting work was “complete.” I did not know that after I got fully dressed for work I would have to engineer a suitable but temporary solution. I did not know that I would be late leaving the house to get the kids off to school or that traffic on my usual route would be backed up. I did not know that my plan to record a coaching session for the training I am to provide next week would not happen because other more immediate concerns needed my help resolving. I did not know that on my way to the second school my low tire light would indicate a problem with at least one of the brand new tires on my car.

But I did know that I was getting exactly what I had prayed for earlier that morning. So I thanked God:

• “Thank You, Lord, for the gift of this house. I am falling in love with it all over again as we make these small changes bit by bit.”
• “Thank You, Lord, for the buffer I already had in place, so the ten-minute delay did not result in anyone being late for school or work.”
• “Thank You, Lord, for reminding me that there is always an alternative route. A four block detour is not that big of a deal.”
• “Thank You, Lord, for helping me to be useful to that school community. I am glad I went to work even though I wanted to use the reality of the bathroom situation as an excuse not to go.”
• “Thank You, Lord, for the foresight to ask another coach earlier this week to record with me, too. Even though this one did not work out, I have a backup ready and willing to support herself and the other coaches in the network.”
• “Thank You, Lord, for this car. There are so many people waiting in the cold on the bus stop. You have blessed me, and we have a warranty for any repair work on these tires, so whatever the fix, it’s not going to cost me anything except a little time.”

Perpetual gratitude is a way to keep a divine perspective about earthly activity. Satan will accept a distracted Christian, Friend. When we are too busy or consumed by whatever emotions life’s circumstances bring our way to live according to the will of God, we are just as useless for the Kingdom in those moments as the unbeliever. When our obedience to God wavers or is overshadowed by what we see and hear around us, Satan celebrates. But when we set our minds on what matters to God and seek Him in all things, we glorify Him and unleash the extraordinary power of the Holy Spirit into our lives.

Before leaving the upper room, Jesus tells His disciples, “My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you.” (John 14:27). He explains that when we have His peace we need not be troubled or fearful. In fact, we can even rejoice in the midst of hardship. Now, Jesus was not facing the mundane troubles of a semi-functional toilet or the need to execute Plan B, but if He could love God enough (and love us enough) to endure the cross and “do exactly as the Father commanded [Him],” I think we can say “thank You.” And when we express our thanks genuinely, we walk like we are grateful, showing the world and God that we believe Jesus, rather than simply believing in Him.

So in the words of our Savior, “Get up, let us go from here.” (John 14:31) There is a whole world out there waiting for us, and there is an enemy out to destroy us and anyone else who because of our obedience will know and love God. Let us welcome the challenge, not as gluttons for punishment, but as warriors willing choose thanksgiving and love for the growth of the Kingdom of God.