September 30

A Grateful Heart

"It is good to praise the LORD...to proclaim your love in the morning and your faithfulness at night." Psalm 92:1, 2

David gives us a model for maintaining a grateful heart and an attitude of praise. Gratefulness and attitude are inextricably intertwined. I have made it a practice to start off each day focusing on the love that the Lord has bestowed upon me. I need to focus on His love and grace in my life, to thank Him for His hand in my life, and gratefully seeking His guidance and protection. Then, as I go forth into my day, no matter what comes, I am reminded that all that crosses my path is for my good. It has passed through the hands of a Father who loves me intensely and there is no need to worry or to fear. During the day, I fill my life with praise music. When I drive anywhere in the car, you will see me singing praise to my Father. Praise music lifts my spirits and points me in the right direction. My Father is right there with me, even in the mundane aspects of my life. At the end of the day, I thank the Lord for his faithfulness to me during that day. I may not realize all that He had done for me, for I am often unaware of His hand in my life, but I know He was there, no matter the circumstances. I thank Him for the hardships of the day, as well as the good things that come my way. I ask Him to teach me the lessons that He wants me to learn through my circumstances. Though I may not completely understand why I am where I am, or why He has placed certain situations in my life, I do trust God that the outcome will be for my good and know that He will continue to change me into the likeness of His Son. I am so thankful to my Father for showing me His love in the hard times. His faithfulness is something I can depend on and because of that, I am so grateful to be a daughter of the King. I often wonder how those who do not have Him as their Father can get through each day! They must be so weary and alone. I have been weary (when I focus on the pain instead of the work that God is doing through the pain), but I have never been alone and for that I am grateful. I have a Father that will NEVER leave me or forsake me! I am so blessed and so grateful to be God's daughter. He has put a song in my heart; one that continues to increase as the days and years go by.

 Thank you, Father, for your great love and faithfulness to me! Thank you for being with me always, and for guiding and protecting me as I go through each day. Thank you for the wonderfully uplifting praise music that is abundant now and for how much it blesses me and keeps me focused on you and your Son! In his name I pray. Amen.