Fullness of Joy

For as long as I can remember, my parents have made it a part of their lives, and a part of our family's, to give thanks. From constantly reminding us as kids to say our "thank yous" to asking us to make lists of what we are most thankful for, to simply living out lives that continually look to God with gratitude. Being thankful is one of their favorite ways to praise God. In everything, and for everything, they have taught our family to look to God and give him thanks.

This seemingly simple act is rather hard to live out consistently. With Thanksgiving just around the corner, (it seems to come a lot quicker when you work in retail...) I have been thinking a lot about giving thanks. More specifically, I have been thinking about how resistent I have been to giving thanks to God. I can thank God all I want, but that doesn't mean my job is going to get easier, my family and friends will move to Pittsburgh, or I will find a church that is an exact clone of Calvary. More thanks does not equal easier times. I feel pretty ugly writing that, but in all honesty, after a long day at work, that's often how my heart feels.

As I was reading on my day off, this quote by Cynthia Heald broke my heart:

"Praise and thanksgiving do not magically change my circumstances. They radically alter my viewpoint. Praise and thanksgiving bring me back into the presence of God, where there is fullness of joy and pleasures evermore."

What a great reminder that I was desperately needing. I am not in need of a change in my circumstances, but a change in my viewpoint. Like I mentioned earlier, as a kid my parents would often have us make lists of what we are thankful for. I want to start that again. It's too easy to ask for a change in circumstance rather than a change in viewpoint. My hope is that through making these "thankful lists" I will begin a pattern of recognizing and living in the fullness of joy that are in my current circumstances.

You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is FULLNESS of JOY; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.

Psalm 16:11