Grateful for the Grateful spirit

Hello! I've taken off the 'ask anything' blog post for reasons that I think it's best not to explain, for now. My sincere apologies. Below is a piece I wrote exactly a year ago in 2007 about how I felt in 2006. My outlook for 2009 is much brighter than then. It shows the power of God at work in my life and all over the world. It's always good to look back and reflect on the goodness of the LORD. Bless the LORD, oh my soul... and forget not His benefits. Psalm 103.

Grateful for the Grateful Spirit

Mid-December. In two weeks, we’ll see the end of 2007 and the beginning of 2008, God willing.

I’m grateful to God for many, many, many things. Indeed, were I to count all my blessings it would surprise me to see what the LORD has done. If I were ambitious to write about His goodness, love and faithfulness… I wonder…. How many books would I write? John was right when he concluded in his letter in John 21:25, “Jesus did many things as well. If everyone of them were written down, I suppose that even the whole world would not have enough room for the books that would be written.” That was then, in John’s day, what about can be said of Jesus' works today?

I’m grateful, first of all, for the fact that I am grateful, especially at this time of the year. Last year about this time, I was a mixed bag of emotions: self-pity, anxiety, distrust of God and sometimes, hard to admit, envious. I remember crying a lot at night, oftentimes beseeching my One and Only Father to change my circumstances overnight; after all, He has the power to do such things, doesn’t He?

But my Father chose to deal with my circumstances in unexpected ways and certainly didn’t change things overnight. The things for which I wanted or thought I needed that spiraled me into self-pity and anxiety mostly remain the same today, but for the most part I have peace within me. I have peace and hope about my future because my Father has taught me and is still teaching me to trust in Him wholeheartedly (Romans 15:13).

Thus I look at my present with joy and peace knowing that my Papa God has a greater and brighter future for me than I could ever plan for myself. I need not fear or worry (though I still waver sometimes :) ) because my Papa has assured me that He’s always with me (Hebrews 13:5b). So, I’m thankful for the grateful spirit that my Papa has given me in this season in spite of...

"The pain of disappointment is soothed by a heart of gratitude." Unknown

Written on December 15, 2007
Lady Akofa