Last year, I’ll never forget, I was at church and the person preaching was talking about authentic gratitude. She explained how gratitude without expression is just empty. Gratitude without action is empty. She went on to explain what a posture of gratitude looks like. At one point in the sermon, she had everyone who could get down on their knees and thank God. Tears were streaming down my face as I felt the gravity of that exercise and what it meant in my life.
As I knelt there, I thanked God for so many things. A song by Elevation Worship came into my mind and I began to sing it to God. The words perfectly conveyed my heart to Him:
“I call You faithful
For the promises You’ve kept
And every need You’ve met
Lord, I’m so grateful
You were with me every step
And I never will forget
When I think of how You’ve blessed me
How Your hand has never let me go
Never let me go
You have been so good to me
God, I can’t believe how You love me
What a friend You have been
So good to me”
But what good is gratitude if as soon as something uncertain or scary happens, I go back to worry and unbelief?! What is more authentic than gratitude when it just doesn’t make sense?! Gratitude is the opposite of worry. When I am praising God on my knees, there’s just no room for worry. When I’m knelt in a posture of thanksgiving, I’m so overwhelmed that I can’t stand. That’s where I want to be. Authentically praising God and thanking Him even when the answers are unclear. Praising God in ADVANCE for the needs He will meet. Praising God in ADVANCE because I know He holds my future.
Driven To Hope 