Ingratitude is a sneaky, snaking vine that slowly chokes the life out of us.
This morning, I was thinking how I’ve had such an ungrateful heart as of late. I want a house with a basement and a bigger back yard. My van is seven years old. I want a pool so my kids can burn off some of their endless energy. And while we’re at it, I want a new laptop.
I want, I want, I want.
In her book, 1,000 Gifts, I remember Ann Voskamp saying something like “Gratitude leads to trust. Trust leads to complete joy.”
But if we think of ingratitude, then we can assume that ingratitude leads to lack of trust and lack of trust leads to the opposite of joy.
This humbles me. Admittedly, I would rather have joy and trust than a new house, car, pool or laptop.
So I started to pray about my ungrateful heart. I asked God to take it from me, to see what I already have right in front of me. To release His plan for our family to Him and not try to take the reins. To trust His timing and not try to hurry it along – because each time I’ve ever done that, it’s disastrous.
Soon after my prayer, a thought occurred to me: we will always feel some small piece of discontent this side of heaven. We aren’t EVER supposed to be completely in love with where we are now because this place is not our eternal home. We’re just passing through.
So while it’s true I need to check my heart for wanting more material things, I also have to accept that I may never have a complete, 100% contented heart on this side of heaven.
But on the other side, I know I will.
In the meantime, if my heart is wanting and longing for more, I need to fill it with more Jesus.
Just for today, and hopefully every day thereafter, let’s look at what he HAVE rather than what we don’t HAVE, shall we?
“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord. “Plans to prosper you and not to harm you. Plans to give you hope and a future.” – Jeremiah 29:11
“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who[a] have been called according to his purpose.” – Romans 8:28
Obviously, gratitude is on the hearts of others as well. Check out the photo Jill Savage posted on her Facebook page:
And today’s devotional at Proverbs 31? Liz Curtis Higgs talks about “Turning Attitude Into Gratitude.” And it’s not even November, people! :)
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