Exude Gratitude

As we enter into these summer months, let’s be the kind of people who exude gratitude to God for the incredible ways in which He blesses us. That kind of statement usually brings a hearty expression of agreement when things are good and we genuinely sense that the sun is metaphorically shining down on us! Yet, when we feel our lives are like the worst of British summer times, with its persistent showers and bleak outlook, talk of ‘blessing’ can irritate and provoke us to react badly.

The truth is that blessing has about as much to do with our circumstances as it has to do with the weather! Both may have an effect upon our enjoyment, but neither is a definitive indication of God’s blessing! One of the meanings of the Hebrew word for blessing conveys the idea of being strengthened in our weakness with God’s strength. In 2 Corinthians, Paul says: ‘I am well content with weaknesses … for Christ sake; for when I am weak then I am strong!’ (2 Corinthians 12:10) A mind-set that embraces weakness as an opportunity for God to endow with His strength and bless us, even in the most difficult of circumstances, is strength indeed! Get it?