Hosanna Restoration Church

Just reading that scripture causes me to sit with a smile on face and well, it leaves me a bit speechless. Previously when we discussed the need to realize how fortunate we are because of the goodness of God, we only briefly mentioned the other thing that the Lord told me attributed to maintaining a close relationship, and that was gratitude. We need to express our gratitude. Give thanks to the Lord. Praise His name.

If we do not thank Him from the depths of heart, then we really do not realize how fortunate we are and if we do realize how fortunate we are, we really do not know Him. Sadly, it is even possible to know Him and then forget Him. It is entirely possible to run hot and cold in our relationship with God, but this should not be!

One day a person might think God is just great because He answered them in a desperate situation, but then when they are no longer desperate God becomes just ok until the next time they are desperate. That is not love or appreciation, and it never develops into the relationship that God desires. He continues to love and reach out, but in return He just gets used. If He were like us, He would just forget about us. Fortunately He is not like us!

So what do we do? We need to get through the gates. We need to respond to those touches of His presence and run to Him. When we hear the truth even if we do not understand everything (no one does) we should run to it. When I heard the truth, my first understanding was not how fortunate I was, it was how much trouble I was in. It was when I found out He was my way out of trouble that I felt fortunate.

When I felt fortunate, I felt a need to express gratitude. The best way I knew to express my gratitude to Him was to sing to Him. When I sang to Him I could not help but praise Him. When I thanked and praise Him, He could not help but respond. When He responds I feel more fortunate and so the cycle continues.

This reminds of a commercial for feeling fortunate. If I fail to feel fortunate, I will lose my joy. If I lose my joy, I will stop thanking Him. If I stop thanking Him I will cease to praise. If I cease to praise, I will end up right back where I was. If I end up being right back where I was, I will be in big trouble. I do not want to be in big trouble, so I pray I will never lose sight of how fortunate I am and never cease to be thankful.

The Lord is good. Believe it. Seek Him until you know it. When you know it, you will be fortunate. When you feel fortunate; be thankful and express your gratitude. His faithful love endures forever. We can trust Him Forever. Yes forever! How fortunate is that. It is all right there through the gates. Admission is thanksgiving and praise. Jesus paid the big price, we get all the benefits. That makes we want to shout! PRAISE THE LORD!