Day 1: Grateful for the Common and the Amazing!
And when she came in, Elisha said, "Here, take your son!" 37She fell at his feet, overwhelmed with gratitude. Then she picked up her son and carried him downstairs. 2 Kings 4:36b-37
Henry Blackaby reminds us that God is always at work around us. We don’t always see it, but the God we serve is NOT a God who USED TO ACT. God ACTS TODAY! Sometimes that activity amazes us, as when God used Elisha to raise the Shunamite woman’s son from the dead. In that instant, “She fell at his feet, overwhelmed with gratitude.” Gratitude is an attitude for every believer. As we’ll see throughout these readings, we ALWAYS have a reason to thank God in our lives. Some days that’s a whole lot easier to see than others, but even on the darkest day of our lives, God still works all around us. When we affirm that reality, we can live so much more effectively.
The Shunamite woman had offered welcome and hospitality to Elisha. In return, Elisha had made a promise to the woman—you will have a son. Her husband was old, and the promise seemed empty. The woman couldn’t bring herself to believe it. She said, “"No, my lord! Please don't lie to me like that, O man of God." (2 Kings 4:16b) Nevertheless, the woman bore a son. He must have been one of her most cherished blessings from God. Then the boy died. How does one give thanks at such a time? No easy answer comes to that question. Yet, Elisha returned and in the midst of the woman’s darkest moment, he demonstrated the amazing power of God!
God doesn’t always work that way in our dark moments. Sometimes He gives us the strength to live through them. Sometimes, He shows us the way around them. Sometimes, He does the AMAZING. Whatever He does, He deserves our thanks. May we respond with gratitude in the common and the amazing, because gratitude lifts every situation in life, and causes us to glorify God in all His work.
Questions and Comments for Reflection and Action:
When did you last experience God do the amazing in your life? What was your response?
When was the last time you were “overwhelmed with gratitude”?
Take some time right now to thank God for the common and the amazing blessings in your life.