090 – FEBRUARY 2011
THINK ABOUT IT
Adversity n 1. distress; affliction; hardship 2. an unfortunate event or incident
Us humans ! We can be a sad lot! Why does it take a setback, a catastrophe, or a funeral for folks to pause and consider the weightier things of life and death … and God?
For most of us, it takes some species of adversity to acknowledge and to surrender our lives to God. And, even after we develop a tight relationship with Him, we sometimes slip away and relax into a worldly comfort - only to discover that it might take a similar type of hard times, life problems, and misfortune to bring us home.
Deuteronomy 8:12-14 Otherwise, when you eat and are satisfied, when you build fine houses and settle down, and when your herds and flocks grow large and your silver and gold increase and all you have is multiplied, then your heart will become proud and you will forget the LORD your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery.
A few weeks ago, I threw my back out … first time in 20 years! Now, by comparison, a temporary back affliction is a modest adversity. However, there was enough pain and limitations to bump me out of my comfort zone and cause me to reflect on my life.
Perspective! I could see a bit differently – examining life in a panorama and being thankful for things that I sometimes take for granted.
Although I need reading glasses, my eyes work. Although I get a few joint pains every once in awhile, my legs and arms and fingers and toes work. My taste buds work. My ears work. And although I speak sometimes when I shouldn’t, my vocal chords work. It’s nice to have things work.
I realized the importance of beginning each day with a prayer declaration, “Thank you Lord! Praise your Holy name. This is going to be a great day!”
Psalm 100:4 Enter into His gates with thanksgiving and into His courts
with praise. Be thankful to Him, and bless His name.
We ought to be more thankful every day and avoid the trap of allowing adversities to be our steersman to a wholeness in life and God.
