More Than Thankful

I love this picture of my grandson. It shows the utter amazement on his face while watching fireworks in our driveway a few years ago. It wasn’t the first time he had seen fireworks, and they weren’t even the best fireworks he had ever seen. But from the look on his face, you would think he had never seen such beauty before. He is amazed by the simplest things.

Lord, help me to be amazed in the everyday simple things. Help me to be amazed by You.

I am amazed by the beauty of the changing seasons as I take a morning run. Sometimes a deer will watch me curiously, and birds are always hopping around, busily gathering food that their heavenly Father amazingly provides for them. They don’t worry over it. They don’t complain that they have to work so hard to gather food every day. They sing their praises to the Almighty and give joy to others.

Lord, help me to be more like the birds. Help me to not complain or worry. Help me to sing praises to you every day in my heart.

I am amazed at how God made our bodies to sleep and how sleep is such a mystery to me—almost like a precursor to death. While we are in this less responsive state, our brains are busy remembering snippets of things to give us dreams. Sleep refreshes us and gives us energy for the new day.

Lord, help me to come to You for refreshment so that I can perform the tasks you have for me each day. Help me to learn to relax more and fully rest in Your presence.

I am amazed at the sacrificial love of a parent for a child. How we parents would without hesitation suffer or even die for our children because God made us to have that kind of love. Our Father has that kind of love for us. Jesus, the God-Man did that for us.

Lord, I am amazed by your love that I don’t deserve. Help me to love others in the same way. Help me to live a life more worthy of the sacrifice You made, even while knowing I will never come close.

I am amazed by the intricacies of the universe. That the oceans are so deep we can’t descend that far. That there are stars and celestial bodies that we don’t know about. That if the earth were closer to the sun we would burn to death, but if it were farther, we would freeze. That there are spiritual forces in the heavenly realms we don’t yet see.

Lord, I am amazed by your power and sovereignty. Help me to trust you more and remember that “In him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together,” (Colossians 1:16,17).

Lord, help me to release my control and remember that I don’t have to hold all things together because You do. As I look toward this Thanksgiving season, help me to be more than thankful.

Help me to be amazed by You.

“Shout for joy to God, all the earth! Sing the glory of his name; make his praise glorious. Say to God, ‘How awesome are your deeds! So great is your power that your enemies cringe before you. All the earth bows down to you; they sing praise to you, they sing the praises of your name,” (Psalm 66:1-4).

Feel free to comment below about what you are thankful for or what amazes you about God!

Happy Thanksgiving!