A Call for Repentance - Day 19: Forgive me Lord for only noticing when things go wrong.

“Always be joyful. Never stop praying. Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.”

‭‭1 Thessalonians‬ ‭5:16-18‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Because the Lord had bragged to Satan about righteous Job, with God‘s permission, Satan attacked Job, taking everything he held dear. Satan was determined to prove to God that Job only served Him because of the hedge of protection the Lord had placed around him.

When, even through all of this, Job continued to be righteous, Satan again accused Job, saying that it was only because his body has not yet been touched, that he hadn’t cursed God. So, again with God‘s permission, Satan now struck Job with loathsome sores all over his body.

Then, as Job was trying to find some relief by scraping his sores with a potsherd, Job‘s wife encouraged him to give up, curse God, and die.

“Then his wife said to him, “Do you still cling to your integrity [and your faith and trust in God, without blaming Him]? Curse God and die!” But he said to her, “You speak as one of the [spiritually] foolish women speaks [ignorant and oblivious to God’s will]. Shall we indeed accept [only] good from God and not [also] accept adversity and disaster?” In [spite of] all this Job did not sin with [words from] his lips.”

‭‭Job‬ ‭2‬:‭9‬-‭10‬ ‭AMP‬‬

Job, in spite of all that had happened to him, would not speak against the Lord. Job maintained that he would accept whatever the Lord allows to happen to him, both good and bad.

Wow, the steadfastness of Job challenges those of us who sometimes allow adversity to make us grumble and complain, while forgetting all the good things, all the blessings, the Lord has brought our way.

I have aches and pains from time to time, just as you probably have. Once, when I was dealing with a particularly nagging pain, the thought crossed my mind, “How did it feel when this wasn’t hurting?” It was as though I couldn’t imagine a pain free life. In the midst of that reflection, the Holy Spirit spoke to me, reminding me of all the things that were still right in my life. He then asked me, “Are you noticing how it feels [for all these things to be right]? Are you noticing what it’s like [for all these things to be right]?”

Wow! What an indictment! Indeed, it’s an indictment to all of us when we take for granted what is good but are quick to complain when something goes wrong.

The fact is, it seems to be part of our nature, and even makes sense, that what is hurting, what is wrong, what needs to be fixed, is what is noticed. Indeed, we probably don’t see ourselves as being ungrateful for all the things that are right. It’s just that our attention is being captured by the thing(s) that is wrong. However, this is not the way the Lord sees it. And it is certainly not the way He wants us to operate.

As Paul exhorts in our opening scripture, “Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.” Yes! The Lord wants us to operate with an attitude of gratitude—mindful of all our blessings—no matter what is currently wrong, or out of place, or missing, or broken, etc.

Child of God, let’s repent for taking for granted all that is right. Let’s—even in the midst of dealing with something that isn’t right (and that’s probably all the time)—remember to be mindful and thankful for all that IS right.

Ultimately, through Jesus Christ, it is always well with our souls!

Peace to you.

Jesus is coming! Get ready for Him!

#callforrepentance

#resolveforhim