Corona Devo 109

Have you ever heard it said that someone "couldn't see the forest for the trees"?

Sometimes I get so wrapped up in the tasks I create and assign to my circumstances, that I forget what a blessing the circumstance itself is.  I muddy it with details and have-to's and perceived perfections that are self-imposed.  

Some days are hard or sad or trying, but today I have nothing pulling me down, except myself.  My circumstances are good, blessed even!  But as I looked around, I became frantic in trying to prune my "trees", water my trees, dig-up and move my trees to other spots because they might be better over there, arrange my trees and then become bitter and cranky at my trees, even though all they have done the whole time is stand still right there.  They are trees of blessing, creating a forest around me, but I have worked myself into a busy-frenzy because I cannot see the forest for the trees.

Then I stopped and sat down with Jesus and the Bible.  He gave me the anecdote.  

Gratitude.  

If I can remember that God is good and my situation (forest) is good, then it takes my focus off of trying to perfectionately prune each tree in my forest. 

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1 Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good!  His faithful love endures forever.

2 Give thanks to the God of gods.  His faithful love endures forever.

3 Give thanks to the Lord of lords.  His faithful love endures forever.

4 Give thanks to him who alone does mighty miracles.  His faithful love endures forever.

5 Give thanks to him who made the heavens so skillfully.  His faithful love endures forever.

6 Give thanks to him who placed the earth among the waters.  His faithful love endures forever.

7 Give thanks to him who made the heavenly lights—His faithful love endures forever.

8 the sun to rule the day, His faithful love endures forever.

9 and the moon and stars to rule the night.  His faithful love endures forever.  ~Psalm 136:1-9

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When I chew on these verses, they are powerful, especially in attacking my petty issues (most of which are self-inflicted).  We have so much to be thankful for.   And God is clear about our role in responding to Him: "Give thanks...".

God starts off with general (deep and huge) truths about Himself: Psalm 136:1-4

1 Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good!  His faithful love endures forever.

2 Give thanks to the God of gods.  His faithful love endures forever.

3 Give thanks to the Lord of lords.  His faithful love endures forever.

4 Give thanks to him who alone does mighty miracles.  His faithful love endures forever. 

God is good to us, He is over every other tangent-god that we create in our lives.  And He is miraculous.  He is good and sovereign and He works miracles in our situations and in us.  I am grateful for these truths!  Absorbing them should dwarf the worries or burdens that we associate with the good and miraculous things He has given us.  

As the Psalm continues, God gets specific in sharing a few specific examples of His power through creation, and continues to remind us to "give thanks" to Him.  His love is with us forever.  (Psalm 136:5-9).

5 Give thanks to him who made the heavens so skillfully.  His faithful love endures forever.

6 Give thanks to him who placed the earth among the waters.  His faithful love endures forever.

7 Give thanks to him who made the heavenly lights—His faithful love endures forever.

8 the sun to rule the day, His faithful love endures forever.

9 and the moon and stars to rule the night.  His faithful love endures forever.  ~Psalm 136:1-9

In listing the verses for their second time, I originally was going to abbreviate/cut-out the repetitive phrases in each verse: "give thanks to him" and "His faithful love endures forever."  Just to keep things short.  But then I realized how important these phrases are in each of our lives, and for each of us today.  In fact, the Lord reminded my spirit that it is no coincidence that He repeated "Give thanks" seven times.  We need to soak up all that God has done in creation and in our lives, and seven times He tells us to "Give thanks".  We simply have to put the details, the distractions, and the minutiae aside and absorb all of the blessings we have from the Lord.  Doing so frees our spirit and opens up appreciation, gratitude and a light-heartedness (in Christ!) that cannot exist when we are buried in the details of life and are missing the big picture of all that God has blessed us with.  (We miss the forest for the trees.)

The Lord's word doesn't waste a syllable, and so it is similarly important that "His faithful love endures forever" is repeated nine times in our scripture reading today.  Are we feeling overwhelmed today?  His faithful love endures forever.  Are we tired, depleted or depressed?  His faithful love endures forever.  Are we frustrated, angry or bitter?  His faithful love endures forever.

The key to having a better forest experience is not cutting down all of our trees.  But many times, through our attitude, criticism and selfishness, that is exactly what we do.  We cut into our people and our relationships, and even ourselves.

The key to seeing the forest for the trees is realizing, absorbing, and relaxing in the truth of who created our forests: God--and having gratitude for Him and all that He has given us.  All the trees surrounding us are gifts from Him, and if we can step back and get a panoramic view of our lives--it's gorgeous.  He has blessed us beyond that we deserve because His faithful love endures forever.

Jesus-help us to see Give thanks to You today, and to be strengthened and comforted by the truth that Your faithful love endures forever.

Blessings, 

sarah

https://sarahsundy04.blogspot.com/