Do you ever feel sometimes that all your efforts just don’t amount to much?
Maybe you have a mission, a purpose, or a good work that requires you to step outside your comfort zone, and it’s just a lot of work to get it going or carry it through.
You know what you want and where you want to go, but it just doesn’t seem like it’s working very well.
I’m sure King David felt that way when he desired to bring the ark of the Lord home. If you read 1 Chronicles 13 -16, you will see what I mean.
As I was reading these passages the other day, I asked the Lord, “What do you want to show me today?”
God always know just what we need to see, even if we aren’t aware we need the message!
Here’s the backdrop: David’s first attempt at bring the ark home didn’t work out so well. In fact, it was an utter flop,and David became angry and offended with God. (Have you ever felt, “Gee whiz, Lord… I’m doing this for you!? What the heck?!”)
But David didn’t stay at that place, and within a short time, he perceived himself as king (finally!) and learned how to seek God, first and foremost, for strategies to fight the plotting Philistines. Victory resulted.
With that experience under his belt, this time when David brought the ark home, he did it in dignity and according to the way God had established for ultimate success.
Like David, our efforts can be thwarted and frustrated by our own perceptions and haphazard attempts, making us angry and disgruntled. External obstacles and circumstances beyond our control can also threaten the fulfillment of our mission.
But David was always attentive to God, ready to learn whatever God had for him to learn. And thankfully, the story of the ark doesn’t end in a failed mission! God has a marvelous way of redeeming our mistakes and upgrading our thinking and our choices.
What a reassuring encouragement for us! But wait, there’s more!
Once the ark was safely in its place, look at David’s priorities! This what the Lord was highlighting to me as critical to David’s success as anything else…
Then on that day David FIRST ENTRUSTED to Asaph and his brethren the SINGING OF THANKS to the LORD [as their CHIEF task]:
Give thanks to the Lord, call on His name; make known His doings among the peoples!
Sing to Him, sing praises to Him; meditate on and talk of all His wondrous works and devoutly praise them!
Glory in His holy name; let the hearts of those rejoice who seek the Lord!
Seek the Lord and His strength; yearn for and seek His face and to be in His presence continually! 1 Chron 16: 7-11
As I read this, the Lord shined a light on these words: FIRST, ENTRUSTED, SINGING, THANKS, LORD, CHIEF. How important did David consider giving thanks?!
If anyone has any question about the “secrets to success,” take note here!
I have to admit, though I know, at some level, that expressing gratitude to God
for everything, even in the midst of trials and worries, is a healthy and desirable practice, if for no other reason than God is worthy, I don’t believe I was convinced that giving thanks is a critical and powerful secret to success.
Brain scientists have determined that when we are grateful, chemicals which make us feel good are released! Is this, in part, the joy of the Lord which gives us strength?
Feeling grateful allows the mind to flow more creatively and positively, helping us to be more productive and effective. And surely, gratitude delights the heart of God!
We are royalty as David was. We have God’s favor, a world to impact, and a destiny for which we are created.
Obstacles and frustrations will tend to get in our way. Giving thanks in th midst of it, I am now convinced, will bring the faith, joy, and strength we need to achieve what it is the Lord has for us.
Giving thanks for everything, or for no specific reason will keep our hearts open and trusting to hear the voice of the Lord without all of the interference.
So, be encouraged as the Lord encouraged me: don’t just gut it out… lift your voice, and then your whole self, by giving thanks to the One who loves you most.
You are highly favored and immensely loved by God!
Maryann
