How can we take credit for the good things in our lives? Let us give thanks to the LORD for His mercy and His grace.

14 Blessed is the one who always trembles before God [not out of fear, but with anticipation and excitement], but whoever hardens their heart [and will not go into His presence] falls into trouble.

If we ever wonder how much the LORD loves us and does for us, all we have to do is look around at all the traps, hidden snares, pitfalls, and lures that Satan has placed in our paths. He knows our buttons:

¹⁵ Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in them. ¹⁶ For everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—comes not from the Father but from the world. ¹⁷ The world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever.

Only by answering His call to be His children and then keeping our eyes fixed and focused on Him can we live blamelessly in this world. We are constantly being renewed by the Spirit, but we must allow Him access to our lives. Otherwise, we become the victims:

18 The one whose walk is blameless is kept safe, but the one whose ways are perverse will fall into a pit. Proverbs 28:18

“Perverse” can mean as bad as we can imagine or it could mean something that has been twisted to our idea rather than God’s idea. For instance, in judging others we condemn ourselves by taking God’s place on the throne. We have perverted justice by passing judgement upon one for whom Christ died. Jesus tells us,

³⁷ “Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven. ³⁸ Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.”

This measure that is given to us comes in the form of insight and knowledge. We learn the heart of God! We experience a kinship with Him that only comes from walking closely to Him and seeing things from His perspective as He explains them to us. Many things He says only become clear once we have experience. Want to know godly love that gives even when the person throws it back in your face? Ridicules you for it and persecutes you? It is when these things happen to us that we begin to understand God’s love for mankind–for us! When we lose family, possessions, health, dreams and all for which we have worked, then we are in a position to understand all that God has lost because of sin:

1. His relationship with His children;
2. His beautiful garden;
3. His creation that suffers to this day because of sin;
4. All the souls that choose not to love Him!

Why does God hate sin so much? Because it destroys His children and leads them to destruction! We must learn to hate it, too. We must learn to love people and to show them the Better Way, the Spirit-led way.

As we give thanks for our blessings today, may we also ask Him for His heart, His eyes, and His compassion. Let’s be about our Father’s business, shall we?

Abba, keep molding me and making me into a useable vessel for You. I don’t want to coast for the rest of my life–I want to go out in a blaze of glory! May my life and even my death bring much glory to You, O LORD. I am thankful for the easy life You have given me; I lay it all at Your feet. May Your will be done in this world even as it is in heaven: Immediately and completely! I’m following You, LORD. Lead on. Amen.