“I thank Thee for the temporal blessings of this world— the freshing air, the light of the sun, the food that renews strength, the raiment that clothes, the dwelling that shelters, the sleep that gives rest, the starry canopy of night, the summer breeze, the flowers’ sweetness, the music of flowing streams, the happy endearments of family, kindred, friends. Things animate, things inanimate, minister to my comfort. My cup runs over.
Suffer me not to be insensible to these daily mercies. Thy hand bestows blessings: Thy power averts evil. I bring my tribute of thanks for spiritual graces, the full warmth of faith, the cheering presence of Thy Spirit, the strength of Thy restraining will, Thy spiking of hell’s artillery.
Blessed be my sovereign Lord!” -Puritan Prayer
With my one word as “Seek” this year, I desire to seek God and His grace in my daily life. I want to seek Him in all the little blessings, the daily circumstances, even the mundane of life. I want to seek and find His grace all day and everyday.
The ongoing challenge in seeking out and counting the blessings in my life isn’t so much that I get too busy and forget, but that I just don’t see them because I’m looking elsewhere. Seeking His grace can’t be accomplished when I am focused on what is going on around me and in me.
Peter knew this from first hand experience. Seeing Jesus walking on water, he had a burst of faith and walked out on the water to meet him.
“Come,” he said. Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. (Matthew 14:29)
As long as he maintained eye contact with Jesus, he walked toward Jesus. But as soon as he looked at the wind and waves with fear, he began to sink.
But when he saw the strong wind and the waves, he was terrified and began to sink. “Save me, Lord!” he shouted. (14:30)
How true is that of me!
When my days are focused on seeking His face, on seeking Him in prayer and the Word, I stand. But when I get distracted by the cares of life, I stumble in the waves of uncertainty. Instead of seeing all the grace He has showered on me, I see the dangers, fears, and trials of life. Instead of walking toward Him in faith, I flounder and try to stay afloat amid the waves of life’s circumstances.
Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. “You of little faith,” he said, “why did you doubt?” (14:31)
My failures to seek Him stem from doubt and lack of faith. I fear my circumstances more than I trust in Him. But as with Peter, Christ remains there in the wind and waves with me. He reaches out to me, pulling me up and onto my feet. He reminds me of grace and reminds me that He came to still all the storms in my life. And with that grace, He points out all the blessings I failed to see: the sun above the clouds, the rainbow after the rain, the grass refreshed, and the birds fed.
All is grace and all blessings are undeserved. This week I experienced that even more as He showered me with one unexpected grace after another. Truly, my cup runs over.
Counting in community: (2027-2042)
unexpected grace
new friends
encouraging words
open doors
hope
opportunity
strength in weakness
supportive friends
using my new Pioneer Woman cookbook:)
time to read and learn
children quiet during long phone calls
grace to trust
our babysitter returning after being gone over a month
my MIL making it through a heart procedure okay
pastor’s sermon on Psalm 121
Linking up with these friends:
Oh, yes, our cups are truly running over! He’s certainly been showering me with blessings this week! I haven’t been so amazed in months! Glad that you are seeking, and thank you for sharing what you’ve found! So good to hear of His Faithfulness!
He is faithful, even when I don’t see it. Thanks for visiting, Mary!
Oh, Christina- this is so true— “I just don’t see them because I’m looking elsewhere. Seeking His grace can’t be accomplished when I am focused on what is going on around me and in me.” Funny how He threads our journeys- my word for the year is LOOK and my reason for choosing that word is just what you’ve voiced- b/c I can fail to see Him even though He’s right here. I get so focused on agenda, on the spin of my days, on myself (ugg- hate to even write that)… so thanks for the reminder. And for the nudge to keep LOOKING. Blessings as you seek.
Oh yes, Look is similar to Seek in a lot of ways. I too need to Look beyond myself and always to Him and what He has done. THanks so much for your visit!
I’m amazed at how quickly I can take my eyes off of Christ sometimes, Christina, so this reminder is much-needed for me today. Thanks for your wise words and tender heart toward Christ, my friend!
It’s easy for me too. It’s seems like Advent is barely packed away when my eyes begin to turn inward instead of upward. I always appreciate your visits Beth!
I’m reading and nodding. Yes, Jesus grabbed that ol’ sinner Peter’s hand THOUGH HE TOTALLY DIDN’T DESERVE IT just like He does with me every. day. I am especially distracted by the burdens I place on me to be ultra-responsible and find myself building on the sand of trusting in me. What a joke.
But His mercy is no joke. It’s just so broad. So startling. So transforming.
Lovely words here, Christina.
Amen! Yes, just reading about the disciples fills me with awe. They were just as unbelieving as me. So often Jesus called them “ye of little faith.” And yet He used them! Amazing grace!
These daily mercies…I actually slowed down as I read them. Thanks, Christina. Because, yes, this is me, too:
“but that I just don’t see them because I’m looking elsewhere.”
I want to maintain that eye contact with the Lord for longer and longer stretches of time until my eyes never drift off Him.
Yes, longer and longer eye contact. Praying for eyes that see and stay on Him. Thanks, Lisa!
Stopping by from Ann’s…oh how I understand the babysitter blessing. Thanks for sharing your list…
jenna
Life is so much better with a babysitter:) Thanks for visiting!
“… that I just don’t see them because I’m looking elsewhere” Yes, yes! This so happens to me. The days goes by and I find my focus has been everywhere but where I started the day desiring it to be. (Visiting from A Holy Experience blog.)
“I just don’t see them because I’m looking elsewhere” My problem too, friend! God is definitely working on me in this area as well. Thanks for linking up.
Yes, yes. May we keep our eyes on Him and not see the strong wind and waves of life.