Biblical Character Trait – Gratitude: the state of being grateful: thankfulness
We are admonished in His Word to have an attitude of being grateful in all circumstances and for all things (Ephesians 5:20; 1 Thessalonians 5:18). Gratitude is expressing thankfulness to God and others in ways they have benefited our lives.
Choose to practice gratitude daily. It will not only produce contentment but also will strengthen our trust in God.
Colossians 3:15-17 And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.
Prayer of Gratitude:
Lord, Thank you for Your marvelous power and working in our lives. Help my family and I to exemplify gratitude in all we say and do. Thank you for the abundant hope that You give regardless of our circumstances (Romans 15:13). Thank you for Your love and care and for supplying our need (Philippians 4:19).
Please forgive me of the times I come to You with an ungrateful heart full of winning and complaining. Help me to look for the ways that You are working in and through our lives.
I choose to praise You.
In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Romans 8:28-29 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.
God is constantly working things out for our good. Sometimes he allows trials and testings to chip away the rough edges as He tries to conform us into His image.
Even though the Cross was in God’s plan, we who through our rebellious actions do not escape the responsibility of putting Christ on the Cross. There are consequences of our personal actions regardless of who we are. The only way to receive true healing is to turn to Him and seek His face (2 Chronicles 7:14).
God is always ready to hear the prayers of a repentant people (James 4:8-10).
2 Chronicles 7:14 f my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.
James 4:8-10 Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded. Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness. Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.
12:30am- indigestion so bad I feel
sick to my stomach. Burping burns. Took papaya
1:40am- finally easing…might be
able to sleep now
8:32am- my whole body hurts! Entire back throbbing! Hands swollen, throbbing, and numb, rt hip throbbing, eyes blurry, neck hurts.
10:24pm- little to no energy
today.
Folded one load of clothes from yday and put away. Deposited paycheck. Picked up shelf for my dad to hang in Dezirae’s closet with Dezirae’s help. Took her to vball practice. Jordon helped me get a few groceries. Not much else. Hard to much in pain.
Aug 29
Chest pain in center of chest,
calves cramping, arms hurt, shoulders hurt, back hurts
It’s storming outside causing more
pain and anxiety
11:38pm – costocondritis flair up is
painful. Took Naproxen & Melatonin after other nighttime meds.
Tips of fingers tingly. Rt hand
cramped causing me to drop phone. Left hand starting to cramp. Rt hip hurts.
Loow back hurts. Toes & feet hurt. Periodic random stabbing sensation
throughout body.
Aug 30
7:55am woke up late and in much
pain. Rough night from pain in chest…couldn’t get comfortable.
10:00am – extreme pain in low back
& rt hip. Hands ache. Toes hurt. Lips are twitching. Neck throbbing.
Aug 31
1.43p Dreamed I relived the
lightning strike incident. Not sure what to think about it.
11.28p Trouble moving all day.
Calves ache fiercely and cramping with any wffort of walking. Sat most of
day.
Managed to get some of kids school
supplies ordered. Took pkg to post office. Got bandages for Joe at store for
his arm. It turns my stomach to look at it, but still have to help him change
bandages daily.
Lord, I need you.
Legs and feet tingling &
twitching. Lower back and butt aches. Rt hip area aches. Rt hand feels like I
sprained it & it’s swollen. Rt shoulder area aches. Left eye twitching off
and on all day. Left ear ringing periodically. Slight headache.
Rt leg cramped when I stood up.
Decided to rub it to get it to stop. Found knot on back of rt knee.
Aug 26
Bp this morning 115/83. During
morning services started to not feel so good – not feeling right, weak, tired,
dizzy. Felt off most of day. Took 2 hour nap after lunch.
Worked on sorting SS material. Shortly after I stood up, my nose began to bleed. Checked bp when got home – 130/83
Now tired, but having trouble
falling asleep.
Rt ear aches, jaw hurts, hands numb
& tingling, low back & rt hip throbbing. Feet feel tingly. Slight
headache. Lft lymph node in neck still quite swollen. Congested. Rt elbow
quite swollen and throbbing.
Aug 27
12.16p- Praise! I had
Dr visit today to follow up on my blood pressure. Dr was pleased with my
results. I also get to start working on getting off the night time blood
pressure medicine.
Thank you, Lord, for your grace is sufficient!
1:05pm-Woke with headache, low back
& rt hip throbbing, hands swollen and achy, dizzy, unstable on feet,
slightly nauseous.
3:55pm-put away Joe’s clothes on
dresser…calves are throbbing & cramping! Must stop & rest awhile.
Tears are leaking out. Butt muscles throbbing.
10:30pm- calves cramping – hurts
horribly, upper back pins and burning, low back hurts, indigestion, burping,
congested, rt elbow aching, rt hip hurts, trouble falling asleep
4:00p took Bp at walmart. 117/74.
Feeling a little better.
Rt side of neck hurts. Rt hip
throbbing. Rt ear aches. Left neck lymph node still swollen. Upper back hurts.
Ears rining off and on all day. Toes freezong right now. Hands keep going numb
& tingly.
Aug 23
8.07 Rough night. Back
hurts, rt elbow hurts, chest hurts, feet tingly, head hurts, exhausted, bottom
of feet hurt, stuffy nose & congested. Cramping in rt side. Hands tingly.
Rt wrist hurts.
12.35p Felt half way decent
today. Washed several loads of clothes, puttied hole in door…overdid
it. My rt hip throbbing, rt arm to elbow is slowen and throbbing, low back
hurts. Headache slightly. Both calves cramping. Hands tingly and numbing.
Chest hurts.
Aug 24
Hebrews 13:5 Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.
Thankful for God’s
ceaseless love and care for us.
8.35a Had a rough night. Bones kept cracking when I tossed & turned to try to get comfortable. It hurt.
My whole body aches and pains right
now. Hands swollen and achy. Feet & lower legs tingly and aching. Rt side
of neck feels tight and aches. Low back throbbing. Rt hip area aches. Eyes
crusty and blurry. Rt eye twitching. Rt elbow swollen and throbbing.
5.30p Praise! My Dr
applied for applied for prescription assistance for me to get help with my
newest bp medicine. I was approved for one year! Praising the Lord!
6.30 A peek in the window of a
lightning survivor’s world…
So…I’ve been
trying to work on setting up a website/blog since April to document my recovery
in an effort to help others as well. I have purchased a book, tried to
read the book, watched youtube videos, etc and it still seems like Greek to
me.
I thought I was
making a little progress today until I hit the wrong button and messed it all
up. Now I’m trying to fix it, but I can’t remember how I did it in the
first place. Ugh!
Time to take a
much-needed break and try again later. Praying for the Lord’s wisdom in
setting up the website/blog.
7:00am- intended to get up early,
but decided to sleep longer because I was tired and hurting
8:00am- my whole body hurts!
Entire back throbbing, rt hip hurts, rt foot hurts, left hand tingly and
aching, hands swollen, headache.
10:30am- bp 125/83
Aug 19
5:30a – had trouble sleeping last
night…kept hearing noises and couldn’t figure them out. Joe woke me up
too early. Ugh!
7:00a- dumb printer giving me fits
this morning…keeps jamming and trying to print bulletin on wrong size paper.
Took me an hour to get 20 bulletins printed. Frustrating.
Meantime, calves started cramping bc
I was standing too long. Upper back stinging needle pain, neck throbbing
especially rt side, exhausted.
2:27p – upper & middle back
throbbing, rt jaw hurts, left knee periodic stabbing pain which makes me jump.
It’s storming outside.
10:21p- abdominal menstrual cramping
is intense, burning stinging pain in back, rt ear ringing of an on all
afternoon, stuffy nose, feet freezing
Aug 20
My rt hip is throbbing. Rt ear aches
pretty bad. Rt side of neck hurts. Head aches. Back aches. Feet & toes
hurt. Hands swollen. Ears ringing intermittently. Calves cramping. Chest
hurts. Rt elbow throbbing.
5.11p- After
13 months, I think the docs finally found the right med combos to keep my blood
pressure within normal levels.
Last bp check was 123/75. Praise the Lord!
Now to work on my other ailments since my lightning
strike anomaly. Pressing on through Christ alone.
10:50p- Sharp stabbing pain shooting
through forearms to fingers.
10.14a- Daniel 3:17-18 If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of thine hand, O king. But if not, be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up.
Where is your faith?
Are you willing to stay faithful no matter what the cost? God will protect
those who stay true to Him. Our eternal reward far outweighs any suffering we
may endure here.
Very rough night. Had trouble
sleeping. Every time I turned my body cracked causing pain. Nightmares.
Joe woke me up in midst of one
scared me wake at 5am something to drop truck off which he misread.
Crawled in bed once got home. Whole
body twitching and dizzy. Almost asleep Joe scared me awake again. Almost
cried. Joe soothingly talked to me, apologized, and gently kissed me. Don’t
recall what I said to him.
Fell back to sleep for a few more
hours.
10:00a – whole body sore like I’m
beat up. Hands and arms numb and tingly.
10:40a- unexpected bloody nose.
Checked bp. Bp 135/90 hr 82. Feeling faintish like I do when I get bloody
noses.
Aug 16
8:00a- woke in a sweat. Bad dream
trying to escape from the evil men…hiding in all kinds of places…and not
knowing who I could trust…family no where around.
9:45a- tired, head hurts, feet achy
& tingly, low back aches, lft hand achy & tingly, stuffy nose
4:00p- worked on finishing bulletin
board at church
10:00p- took migraine pill to ease
migraine – head pounding.
Aug 17
8:00a- woke in a sweat. Bad dream
trying to escape from the evil men…hiding in all kinds of places…and not
knowing who I could trust…family no where around.
9:45a- tired, head hurts, feet achy
& tingly, low back aches, lft hand achy & tingly, stuffy nose
4:00p- worked on finishing bulletin
board at church
10:00p- took migraine pill to ease
migraine – head pounding.
The Greek word for longsuffering makróthymos (Strong’s #3115) is made up of two words makro
(long) and thumos, (wrath). Slow to wrath. The idea is to remain in a
state of emotional quietness in the face of unfavorable circumstances. Longsuffering is patiently enduring lasting
offenses or hardships.
James 1:19-20 –
Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak,
slow to wrath: For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God.
Proverbs 14:29 – He that is slow to wrath is
of great understanding: but he that is hasty of spirit exalteth folly.
Longsuffering is the ability of restraining oneself in the
face of provocation that does not quickly retaliate or immediately punish. It avoids quarrels, restores injustices, and cultivates
charity.
Numbers 14:18 – The
Lord is longsuffering, and of great mercy, forgiving iniquity and
transgression, and by no means clearing the guilty, visiting the iniquity of
the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation.
Ephesians 4:32 – And
be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God
for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.
Longsuffering endures
the abuse and ill-treatment of others without growing resentful or bitter.
Ephesians 4:1-3 – I
therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the
vocation wherewith ye are called, With all lowliness and meekness, with
longsuffering, forbearing one another in love; Endeavouring to keep the unity
of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
Colossians 3:12-13 –
Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies,
kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering; Forbearing one another,
and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as
Christ forgave you, so also do ye.
You cannot be
longsuffering without also be willing to forgive others.
Romans 2:4 – Or
despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering;
not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?
How do you respond to those who irritate you, get under your
skin, never let up on you? How does God
want us to respond? Longsuffering.
But how?
Exodus 34:6-7 – And
the Lord passed by before him, and proclaimed, The Lord, The Lord God, merciful
and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth, Keeping mercy
for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, and that will by
no means clear the guilty; visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the
children, and upon the children’s children, unto the third and to the fourth
generation.
Just as God is merciful, gracious, longsuffering, and
abundant in goodness and truth. He does
not do unto us as we deserve, but rather forgives us. God uses restraint.
1 Corinthians 13:4-5 –
Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not
itself, is not puffed up, Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own,
is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil;
Take the burden of resentment and vengeance off your heart
and COMMIT your way unto the Lord.
Psalms 37:5-6 – Commit
thy way unto the Lord: trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass.
And he shall bring forth thy righteousness as the light, and thy judgment as
the noonday.
Don’t worry about justice being served. God will take care of them.
Romans 12:19 – Dearly
beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is
written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.
We cannot obtain longsuffering overnight. When we continuously live in the Spirit and
daily place all our sinful tendencies on the cross, we will gain the virtue –
Longsuffering – little by little.
Galatians 2:20 – I am
crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me:
and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of
God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.
Difficult days are inevitable and sometimes unavoidable; but
you don’t have to let them make you miserable.
The next time your patience is being tested, take time to quiet your
mind, remove yourself from the irritation, and call on God for His help.
Tips on helping to become more longsuffering:
Purposely and consciously yield your life to
Christ. Don’t fight it or run from your
trial. Allow the trial to be your
teacher. Ask God to help you learn what
you need to be taught.
Practice patience. Focus on a solution. What must you do to take steps in the right
direction? Ask God to show you the truth in love. James 2:14
Become more disciplined in studying the Word of
God. Ask God to help you understand what
longsuffering actually involves. Read
the Book of James. Ask God to show you
all His promises and give you wisdom, peace, endurance, faith, healing, and
protection.
Find the “golden nugget” because there is a
greater purpose. Your trials often
become triumphs for others. Jeremiah
29:11-14
