Here is my beautiful, funny, kind and already very smart, Granddaughter Mikaela!
She is a burst of joy to me. Every time I see her little face my heart jumps with gratefulness.
How can I thank God for her?
By just being grateful. Isn’t that what we all desire when we give a gift to someone? Simple.
It’s in this Grateful heart posture that peace immediately follows.
I once wrote down in my notes a simple sentence I believe was an encouragement to me at the time, from Jesus:
“Gratefulness is best friends with Peace. They are always together”
That was profound.
Just so true and yet I find myself forgetting many times since that day I wrote this down.
It’s too easy to get distracted by life. Health issues, uncertainties, fears and doubts creep in so easily if we are not purposefully keeping our minds and hearts set on things above
“do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”
Philippians 4:6-7 ESV
It’s like driving. If you take your eyes off the road, then you’ll crash. It’s the same thing if we start overthinking and stop turning our hearts and minds onto Jesus, when the crazies of life start hitting us.
For me it begins when I forget to be grateful. Then peace begins to take a back seat. Not that Jesus ever leaves, but that I step out of His will
He wants us to stay above it all by staying grateful for all of the good we already know we have. He knows that we will have struggles. He told us Himself
“I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.””
John 16:33 ESV
See, as we stay in Him. In his will. We will have peace in our heart and mind as troubles run at us.
Sometimes many troubles come at the same time. We need to be close to Him to make it through.
He is our Peace. He is our rest.
We have eternal life in Jesus and that is enough to be grateful for!
Jackie this is beautiful and such a great reminder to be grateful of all that we have. Our life, our jobs, our family and friends. It is so true when we are filled with gratefulness there is such a peace within us that only God gives us. I am so grateful that you still write and I can still read your beautiful writing. I can’t remember the last time I read one. Mikaela is getting so big and more beautiful each day. I feel like you just told us she was born. I miss you both very much. Love you Debbie
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