As I sit reflecting over the past three weeks, of all the lessons on Thankfulness I have learned recently, there is one that really stands out at the moment; learning to be content and thankful for who and why God made.
A new and dear friend in my life recently shared with me a vision God had given her which she felt to pass on to me. As she sat in a state of prayer one day, the Lord showed her a grayscale vision of a field of Sunflowers. Suddenly the still frame seemed to be flooded with color, similar to the scene with Dorothy entering the Land of Oz. As the sun began to rise in the east, each delicate sunflower popped its droopy head up briskly and faced the sun, following it from sunrise to sunset. God spoke to my friend’s heart and told her how she was like a sunflower who, instead of turning her beautiful face up to behold the sun, was turning to look at all the other sunflowers around her, comparing herself and thinking that if she were more like them then perhpas she would be more special, useful, or honoring in God's eyes. But the Lord spoke gentely to her heart and reminded her to stop comparing herself with those around her. He loved her just the way He had made her and she was perfect in His eyes. She needed to take her eyes off of herself and look up and follow God from sunrise to sunset. It is when our eyes are focused completely on the Lord that we will finally be content.
This inspired my heart because so often I feel unworthy, insignificant, and not as special, gifted, or as useful to God as the other flowers, or people, around me. Sometimes I feel like if I only had that person’s strength and joy, and maybe the vocal strength & singing abilities of that person, maybe then I could be more useful or glorifying to God. But God shakes His head and says; “My child, I love you just as you are. I made you just the way I want you to be and there is nothing you can do to make me love you more or less. When you keep your eyes on me, only then can I use you to bring me glory. My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. It’s not about performance so stop trying to find your identity and worth in what you do and be content and satisfied in the fact that YOU, my precious child, are my beloved.”
What a joy it is to be called His beloved. I am so grateful that the Lord loves me in spite of all my faults, failings, mistakes and weaknesses and that in His eyes I am perfect because He’s looking at my heart. He made me for His pleasure and He delights in me when I turn my eyes upon Him and trust completely in His strength and not my own.
I am thankful that I am a child of God and that His salvation and love is not something I can achieve or maintain by my works ; “For by grace ye are saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God; Not of works, lest any man should boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.” –Eph. 2: 8-10
So now, beloved, what are you thankful for this week?
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