Thinking what a joy-saving, faith-feeding, sanity-keeping practice expressive gratitude could be to us in this brutal season. Staying alert to every invitation to thank God & then (this is the really important part) doing so ROBUSTLY. I’m talking, maybe giving a shout of praise.

Colossians 4:2 is one of my memory verses so it stays on my radar constantly. “Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving.” It conveys the idea of persevering, faith-filled praying that keeps eyes wide open for any and every glimpse of God at work. ->

And when one comes we don’t register it somewhere for later. We do this so often & miss the reprieve that joy-break was meant to be in that moment. When we catch a glimpse of answered prayer, RIGHT THEN we praise God & tell him we see his goodness and mercy. Maybe clap our hands.

We are living in an avalanche of bad news right now. But God is at work all around us. He is answering countless prayers. Let’s count them! Staying alert to them & registering them that moment & responding to them will refresh our souls as it glorifies our gracious God. Example->

My friend & I are praying so hard for a little newborn struggling to thrive. Got some good news last night - it wasn’t everything but it was something - &, oh man, we cheered. God sends reprieves & opportunities for laughter, for jumping up & down & so often we don’t take them.

Our hearts will melt in this hard season if we don’t take these reprieves. These breaks to praise God and to thank him robustly. These opportunities for our heavy hearts to be lifted. Though a thousand other things remain unfixed and unanswered, thank him for THIS thing.

And that one thing is used by God to strengthen us for a next thing and a next thing. And one day we look up, as if shaking out of a dream, and realize we are staring straight into the face of Jesus and, by his grace, we have thanked our way all the way Home.