But let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price.
Where I spend most of my time is a sure indicator of what I value most
What others see should only be my love and devotion to Christ. That is what deepens when I practice gratitude daily—in word and in deed. Choosing gratitude is an intentional act.
Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name. Psalms 100:4
The psalmist praised God with thanksgiving and made known His deeds. I’m admonished to do likewise, knowing that my achievements and victories are not my own. This theme has been very present in my mind lately, at times afflicting me, at times longing for His face because success should never be self-centered, but rather Christ-centered. I am convicted when I read Peter’s admonition:
But let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price. 1 Peter 3:4
The work everyone sees is not the sum total of our worth. Output—while it may be a by-product of where our heart is—can actually set us on a course that longs for others to see us, that demands our value be measured by man’s standard. If we’re not intentional about knowing God first, deepening our love for Him above everything else, we’ll fall prey to the enemy’s deception.
I’m finding that where I spend most of my time is a sure indicator of what I value most. Being among God’s people, pondering His word, reading the wisdom found in His pages, and experiencing profound joy are reasons to worship Him with intention.
When we’re uncertain about where we’re heading, we ought to stop to give thanks, no matter the circumstance. Our Spirit-filled lives will bear tremendous fruit when we thank God for everything, not just when successes enter our lives by surprise.
Choosing gratitude is indeed an intentional act…brilliant essay! So glad you wrote this. You’ve made a rough way smooth for many people…myself included.
https://blessed-are-the-pure-of-heart.blogspot.com/2018/01/your-dying-spouse-440-hope-at-midnight.html
Thank you, Andrew, for your kindness. I appreciate the scripture’s convicting thoughts. It’s always a help in time of need, isn’t it?
I like the verse you chose, it speaks to me. “Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name.” Psalms 100:4
Thanks for sharing!
FMF #10
That one is one that fills my heart with joy. Thank you, Karen, for stopping by to read!
To give thanks in everything – that’s good counsel, Thank you.
Thank you, Debby!
Loved the title. It is hard to remember our output is not our worth, nor is it what our kids do or say or what the social media world thinks. It’s really about our relationship with Him. Thanks, nlz
Yes, we are wise to measure our worth by the cross and what happened there to bring us into His family. So thankful for Christ and how he sees me when no one else does. He knows me. And you!
This is exactly why I chose not to publish a blog post during the week of Christmas and will do the same during the week preceding Easter, even though I regularly post weekly. Sometimes we need to sanctify time by not being productive and focusing that extra time we create to God. Love your thoughts on this.
Thank you for your diligent move to sanctification, Marla. I appreciate hearing about your convictions during those time of reverence and devotion. I am truly inspired.
Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name. Psalms 100:4 One of my favorite psalms, and I love that you made it a part of the meaning of intentionality. Yes and amen!
Eyes on Jesus… you’re shining!
Lisa #30 at FMF
Thank you Lisa for reading. I am thankful for you!
Erendira, such a great post. I like how you emphasize the importance of knowing and focusing on God first. I loved what you said here:
” If we’re not intentional about knowing God first, deepening our love for Him above everything else, we’ll fall prey to the enemy’s deception.”
When we are intentional about knowing God we gain the right frame through which to view that work which we do. When we see ourselves with an accurate perspective, we’re less likely to believe Satan’s lies.
Great post!
Yes. It is a daily struggle tomlive eontentionnally…to set our eyes on the things above and to renew our minds of what the digital age has done to our self-worth. I so appreciate you Jeanne, for your kind words and your earnest pursuit of Christ.
So often I fall into the trap of measuring my worth by what I have accomplished in a given day. Inevitably, I fall short and feel bad. Thank you for reminding me to find my value in Christ, and to learn to love Him more deeply.
Thank you Marie for reminding me as well!
Intentional with my thanks to HIM! YES!
beautiful thoughts! Thank you for sharing-
-Traci http://www.tracimichele.com
Thank you! So glad you stopped by to read!
Erendira,
This was so moving. In the past, I haven’t been as intentional as I should have been in bathing my mind in his word. That is truly the only way to live, and do so with the right intentions! As we intentionally spend time with Him, our intentions are made whole. Visiting from FMF link-up #103. Love your blog! 🙂
Thank you, Quantrilla! I’m so glad you responded. We are made whole in Christ as we leave all our plans at the foot of the cross. He will direct our paths! Thankful for you!
Amen! It’s so important to spend time with the one who loves us the most so that we can reflect His love to the world around us!
It seems love is all we may be able to offer, and that is much more than what the world may ever get. Christ’s love is for all.