A rare moment happened today when both of my dogs slowed down enough to curl up on the couch with me. I stopped with them to reflect on how important it is to slow down and be still. I have been noticing this week that I have to be intentional with my quiet times with God, not only because puppy craziness happens at my house, but also because of the approaching holiday season. I love love the holidays, don’t get me wrong, but it can be all-consuming. So today I slow down to reflect and remember what I need to be consuming: God, His Word, and most importantly, God’s love. 

I have read over Psalms 100 quite a bit lately, and I went there again this morning. It can seem cliché since most bibles will let you know right away when you flip to this Psalm that it is a ‘Psalm of Thanksgiving,’ but it has been on my heart recently, not just because it is Thanksgiving on the calendar. I am pulled to these verses because, as I come in and out of dark, hard, painful times of life, I want to remember to praise and give thanks to God for all He has given me.

As I read God’s Word here, I am reminded of all that he has given me. My basic needs are met by Him in things I take for granted way too often, including food, a home to call my own, and the breath in my lungs. God has given me amazing people in my life who support me, push me to grow in God’s work, and who love me. When I remember all the goodness God has given me, is giving me in this moment, and will continue to provide in the future, I am blown away. If I sat down to write down all that God has given me, I would get major cramping in my hand from writing or typing them all out. It is so easy in difficult times, when I feel like I don’t have what I need, to forget all that I truly DO have from God. I have caught myself too many times to count in the last few months, frustrated and questioning why I am struggling to meet my bills, wondering why I haven’t gotten a part-time job offer yet to help me out. After reading this Psalm, I’m reminded that I have what I need from God. I am reminded that God has a plan for me. There is a reason I don’t have a part-time job yet, and only He knows why. My part-time job right now is to trust God that He will provide. So as I continue to put in applications for a worldly part-time job, I know that God’s got me!

This Psalm also reminds us to acknowledge and know that “the Lord is God! He made us, and we are His. We are His people, the sheep of His pasture.” (Psalm 100:3 NLT) Knowing that we are God’s children, we can be confident that no matter what is happening in our lives, God is with us. Circling back to those frustrated and questioning times I’ve had financially, I know God is with me. When I’ve been struggling with a sickness the doctors can’t quite figure out at the moment, I know God has me in His hands. I am a child of God, and He will not forget me in these challenging times, and He loves me. 

This short Psalm ends by specifically telling us to “give Him thanks and praise His name” and that we should do this because God has “unfailing love for us” (Psalm 100:4-5 NLT). Other translations say that God’s “mercy is everlasting,” that “His steadfast love endures forever,” and His “lovingkindness is everlasting.” No matter how it is put, God is completely and wonderfully in love with YOU!

When I slow down to think of all that God provides for me, that I am a child of God, and He has unfailing love for me, I cannot help but praise Him. As this Psalm says I want to SHOUT it to everyone I see. So why don’t I? I’m putting a few challenges on myself today to help with that and I encourage you to join me:

• Getting back to a daily gratitude list. I started the year with adding a quick gratitude item to my journaling and have strayed for the past few months but I’m excited to dive back in!
• Be in God’s Word daily. I know it may look different with one day being able to sit down for an hour to read, and other days being just a quick audio bible app while I get ready for the day. 
• Post AND Talk About Jesus. I have been somewhat consistent with my posting, and I want to continue with that because this helps me grow closer to God while hopefully reaching a few others. The piece I want to get better at is talking about Jesus when I’m away from my screen or journal, in real life. 

God, thank you for all that you have given me and will give to me here on my time on earth. I am beyond grateful for Your love for me, that You would give Your only Son for me. I pray that I can take these challenges not as a checkbox item but as a way to draw near You. I love you, God. Amen. 

See ya in the next post, with

✝️Lots of Faith & Lil’ Bit of Fur 🐾