For the Good

And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them. Romans 8:28 (NLT)

Whoa! I came across this journal entry when scrounging around in my office closet. Sometimes I like to do this, to sit with trinkets, photos, and journals — taking it all in while holding space for the feelings that come with it. This entry caused me to pause. Here's what I wrote...

JoAnna, will you allow His voice to take priority over any other? Are you willing to let whatever He needs you to do take precedence over every other ambition? Are you willing to have your will swallowed up in His?

I can’t help but wonder why I wrote these questions. What had I been feeling? Were they rhetorical? Did I believe God was with me, or was this one of those times of disbelief? Was it a challenge to myself to take a deeper plunge into the journey toward faith? I was a runner, in the opposite direction of God for a long time. From the tone, I have to believe that this journal entry is a snippet of evidence that the tables had turned, and I was coming to believe in something so much greater than me.

It would be impossible to account for every turning point. The process has been slow going. With the sunrise or alarm clock, whichever comes first, I've learned to center my day on God’s will. That sounds pretty, I suppose, but I know all too well when left to my own devices that I take off all willy-nilly or slump into a state of laziness or self-pity. There's little in between for me.

To counter my default setting, I had to be teachable (again, easier said than done). After I found a sponsor in the rooms of recovery, I was instructed to start each day with prayer and a gratitude list. Look for the good, I was told. Let a spirit of gratitude captivate your heart. Easy, right? Well, it would have been if not for one tiny stipulation. I could not repeat any gratitudes I'd previously listed. It didn't take long before the hunt was on, all through my day I was looking for little nuggets, so I'd be ready for the coming morning.

Puzzles feed my all too active brain. Competition feeds my ego. In this gratitude challenge, I was the recipient of both and didn’t notice how the effort I was exerting was changing my view of present surroundings. My ego began to deflate. I started to assume a right size. It was easier to be gentle with myself and others. Then one day, much to my amazement — I felt relatively satisfied with my life. JoAnna's feet had been nailed to the floor of a softer reality. As if that wasn't enough, this gift of gratitude kept on giving. Living in God’s will had become easier too. I wanted the peace and serenity that came with this new lifestyle.

So, what about you? Do you think gratitude could have a similar benefit in your life? Are you willing to put your name at the front of those questions and start hunting for answers? Maybe you know God already but are looking for a deeper connection. Or perhaps you want to give the gratitude experiment a try, what have you got to lose? I'd love to hear all about it and hope you'll come back to share your results.

No matter what, I hope you discover the good God has for you in new and unexpected ways. I pray that your burdens are made light and that you will have a spirit of peace to guide you through the coming week. Thank you for joining me at the fire ring and allowing me to share a bit of my experience, strength, and hope.

May you walk in the sunlight today & always.

—jo

Affirmation: Today I will consider gratitude and how the simple act of acknowledging it can change my perspective and draw me closer to all God has given me.

—From the Fire Ring, Vol. 3, No.3