Tuesday, November 28, 2023

Make a joyful shout to the Lord, all you lands! Serve the Lord with gladness; Come before His presence with singing. Know that the Lord, He is God; It is He who has made us, and ]not we ourselves; We are His people and the sheep of His pasture.

Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, And into His courts with praise. Be thankful to Him, and bless His name. For the Lord is good; His mercy is everlasting, And His truth endures to all generations.

Psalm 100

The next gateway to gratitude is rekindling wonder. How many times have we read Psalm 100? Take a moment to read it again, even if you skipped it yesterday or this morning. Rekindling wonder is taking a fresh look at things that should amaze you. “To view ordinary things with astonishment—as if seeing them for the first time—reflects a capacity for appreciation.” Here are a few examples.

1. Acacia trees, which grow in African savannah, begin to increase their tannin production to levels that are toxic to animals when antelopes start to eat their leaves. They also emit a gas to tell other trees to produce more tannins for their protection.

2. Owls don’t have eyeballs. They have eye tubes, which they cannot move back and forth, so they need to use their necks to see.

3. Goats have accents.

4. African buffalos make decisions by voting.

5. Armadillos are bullet proof.

6. A tiger’s skin also has stripes.

When you read this list, you realize the care and attention God used in making his creation. So, we enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise. He is good; his mercy is everlasting, and his truth endures to all generations.

PRAYER: I marvel at the care and attention you gave in making our world. Thank you for every small thing you made. In the name of Jesus, I pray. Amen

Au, W.,& Au, N. C. (2011). The Grateful Heart: Living the Christian Message. Paulist Press.