What to be thankful for. . .

I know you are probably thinking, "Oh no, another Thanksgiving blog post." It is true that this time of year causes us to be mindful of the things that we are most thankful for, but that really isn't the theme for this blog post.
Over the last several months, I have been able to experience some of the most trying and humbling times that I have ever had to experience in my life. Yes, I wrote, "I have been able to experience" because looking back now, I am grateful for these times. I can't really say that I was ecstatic as I was going through them, but I now see that they were beneficial to my development.
In Psalm 79, the psalmist writes a prayer out of deep discouragement. The Babylonians had come into to Israel, killed many of God's people, laid waste to Jerusalem and the Temple of God. It is in deep despair that he asks God, "How long?"
How long is a question that I find myself often asking. I don't know about you, but I am impatient. I have grown accustomed to a society of instant gratification. Why even our televisions come equipped with "On Demand" programs. I really hate to wait when I am in pain or suffering. There is nothing worse than going to the emergency room or doctor's office to wait.
The Israelites were suffering at the hands of the Babylonians (and others) causing them to ask how long. . . "How long, God, before you take action against them?" I can relate to this question because, like the Israelites, I get myself into situations that are painful because of my poor choices. Israel was being punished by God because they had turned their back on Him and chosen to worship false gods. I think we can all relate to making bad decisions that lead us in wrong directions.
What do you do when you are in those times of God's correction? Often, we have a tendency to complain about the pain. But it is through this pain that God brings us back to HIm. In the middle of the questioning and complaining of how long would they have to suffer and how horrible the enemy has been, the writer turns his heart back to the source of hope.

Help us, God our Savior,
for the glory of Your name;
deliver us and forgive our sins
for Your name's sake. -Psalms 79:9 NIV

The first place that we are probably drawn to it the cries for help and deliverance, but what stands out to me is the motive behind the requests. "For Your name's sake" and "for the glory of Your name." In a world full of self-promotion and self-absorbed people, to ask for something that is not in self-interest or glory is refreshing. I have a problem with focusing on me, myself, and mine. What I am learning is that all the thanks and praise must be to God. Even in the toughest of days or worst of experiences, He is there and in control of everything . . . even my pain.

God loves me today as much as He did the day He sent Jesus to die on the cross in my place.

The psalmist finishes out his cry for desperate relief by acknowledging that true help from God will result in a people that have their thanks in the right place. Most of us become thankful for escaping a problem, pain, or awful situation. The author of Psalm 79 points us in the direction of being thankful to the One who rescues us and restores us.

Then we Your people, the sheep of Your pasture,
will praise You forever;
from generation to generation
we will proclaim Your praise. -Psalm 79:13

One of the great lies society has bought into is that God doesn't care. As a father, I realize that I get upset with the actions of my children from time to time, but I love them dearly and nothing will change this. God may not always care for the choices I make or the actions I take, but He loves me today as much as He did the day He sent Jesus to die on the cross for me. The truth of John 3:16 is as real today as it was when Jesus spoke it. "For God so loved . . ."

So, let's be thankful and give credit to the One it is due. God has given me life today that I don't deserve. Today, I want to give Him the praise and thanks He deserves. I want to give God the credit.

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