Death by Gratitude

I beseech you therefore brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice —
-Romans 12:1Thank You

This morning I got a specific, powerful answer to prayer.

It doesn’t matter so much what it was, but it was in response to something causing me real stress. I needed God to come through, and when it became clear that He had by answering my petition just as I had hoped, I found myself doing a dangerous and very unattractive happy dance behind the wheel while driving the freeway.

That’s fine to a point. Answered prayer brings relief, and there’s nothing like that “My worry’s over, You took care of it, thank you!” experience. It’s your cue to heave a big sigh, laugh, and break out the happy dance. Fair enough.

And then? Because what we do with our gratitude is more important than the gratitude itself. So important, in fact, that I’d co-opt James’ description of faith  (James 2:14-17) by saying, “Gratitude without works is dead.”

Enter Paul’s plea above, beseeching us in light of God’s mercies to show our gratitude in tangible simplicity, offering our bodies while telling the Potter His clay loves Him and hopes only for His purposes to be furthered through His vessel.

That’s the heart cry of someone whose “Thank You” to God goes beyond emotional expression, translating into surrender. When I see or remember His goodness, I make a choice of either saying my Thank You, or living, it.

Offering words is a nice start, for sure, and praise is always a good thing. But offering my body is better, because when I do, I’m showing my feelings about God by saying Yes to what He wants and No to what He doesn’t.

Obedience, in that case, is a kind of death by gratitude, a self-denial grounded on the fact that if He’s been good, the least we can do is respond to that goodness by saying, as Saul of Tarsus famously did, “Lord, what would You have me to do?”
(Acts 22:10)

“Strength for Today —“

Now sometimes, like this morning, His goodness shows itself through something nice and tangible. Like getting the answer you hoped for when you prayed (never a guarantee, but terrific when it happens) or finding a check in the mailbox you weren’t expecting, or getting some other sort of blessing dropped on you. Such a manifestation of His goodness stirs gratitude in the heart which, hopefully, will evolve into obedience of the body. Lust will be resisted, the tongue controlled, the mind focused, etc.

Other times, God’s goodness needs to be remembered without the prompt of an immediate, verifiable blessing.  No question that takes a bit more work, but it’s very doable. And the more mature we become, the less dependent we are on tangibles, and the more we rejoice in the intangible eternals.

All of which reminds me of Jesus admonishing His men to rejoice not in the current manifestation of power they were experiencing, but rather that their names were written in heaven. ( Luke 10:20)

If I’m willing to, I can stir gratitude up within me by applying my mind to remember what God has done for me. He’s redeemed, sanctified, protected, provided for, forgiven, healed, enlightened, and comforted, just for starters.

” — and Bright Hope for Tomorrow

I can remember all these kindnesses, and more. And when I choose to, as David said, “Forget not all His benefits” (Psalm 103:2) then I will, as he also advised, “Bless the Lord oh my soul” in word and deed, through praises expressed and sinful impulses denied.

That’s why I don’t need a situational breakthrough to make me grateful, much as I love those. I can also generate gratitude by simple remembrance of His goodness, which evolves into heartfelt thanksgiving, which ends with more zeal to use this old carcass to please Him.

For me today, that means keeping my mind more focused and not giving any room to “spacing out”, which is one of my preferred lazy luxuries. It means considering how to redeem my time well, since I’m to be about my Father’s business and have limited time and energy for doing so. And it means considering how I can be a living sacrifice by conforming my actions to what’s in the best interest of the people around me

In short, I can either choose to feel grateful, or I can choose to be grateful.

Some say gratitude is the hardest of all emotions to express. I would say that’s only true when we’re trying to find ways to express it in words which is, I agree, nearly impossible. But it’s that complicated or hard to express it in action and, in fact, Paul described that kind of expression as being “reasonable service.”

If I’m doing it right, I’ll apply myself to remember and dwell on God’s goodness, inspiring gratitude, motivating the offering of my body as a meager Thank You for what I’ll never be able to repay.

Gratitude beyond attitude. Works for me.

Comments

[email protected] | Mar 15, 2016

Beautiful.......Thank you.........I'M GRATEFUL!!!

Jim | Mar 17, 2016

We have so very, very much to be thankful for. In the middle of uncertainty, political chaos, genocide, intolerance, there is still much to thank God for, even if He has never directly answered my prayer. Sometimes, when I'm depressed and wanting to die, it's hard to think about gratefulness, but I have a safety plan that begins with focusing on my family. When I think about their love for me and my love for them, my thoughts are redirected. I'm incredibly blessed. How could I ask for more than what God has given me and done for me.

Add Comment