Deciding in my Heart

I have become so dry. 

So closed in and holding tight to the little I have. 

I have felt a distance between me and God, 

all the while knowing that it was not Him that had moved. 

He never leaves, never forsakes. 

He gave me these verses this morning 

as I came to Him and 

simply confessed the distance in my heart.

 I asked Him to show me,

 to search me and show me 

what had come between us.

 

Repent, all of you who forget me, 

or I will tear you apart,

and no one will help you. 

But giving thanks is a sacrifice 

that truly honors me. 

If you keep to my path, 

I will reveal to you the salvation of God.” 

Psalm 50:22, 23 

I had stopped being purposelly thankful 

and offering Him praise willingly and often. 

I had been focused on all that I have to do 

instead of Who He is. 

But thanksgiving throws open the doors to God. 

We are to enter His courts with praise. 

Enter His gates with thanksgiving 

and His courts with praise; 

give thanks to Him and praise His name. 

Psalm 100:4 

As I read 2 Corinthians 9 this morning 

after God showed me my need 

to return to giving Him thanks, 

verse 7 jumped off the page at me. 

God doesn't want me to give because I have to, 

He wants me to be joyful 

as I come to Him with my thanks. 

And, I have determined to do just that.... 

To regularly give Him thanks, with a joyful heart. 

"You must each decide in your heart how much to give. 

And don't give reluctantly or in response to pressure. '

For God loves a person who gives cheerfully.'"

2 Corinthians 9:7

As I was typing this out, 

this next verse just popped in my head. 

So, I share it now as I close. 

What, then, shall we say in response to this? 

If God is for us, who can be against us? 

Romans 8:31