Power to Give Thanks

Fun picture, huh? I took some alone time a few weeks ago. When I do that I usually take my little pocket point and shoot Canon. Sometimes I don't want to "work" at trying to get a good shot with my big Canon EOS. I just want to capture the beauty I see and rest in that beauty...let Gods amazing creation refresh me and "quiet" me.

I really like Elisabeth Elliot. A portion in the book, A Lamp For My Feet, seemed so perfect to me this morning.

"Often I pray for someone whose circumstances or needs are unknown to me. There are many prayers in Paul's letters which may be used for almost anyone. One of my favorites is in Colossians 1:9-12. A part of this prayer asks "May He strengthen you, in His glorious might, with ample power to meet whatever comes with fortitude, patience and joy, and to give thanks to the Father".

"That seems to cover every possibility. It does not ask for instant solutions or reversals. It does not call on God for miraculous deliverance out of any trouble that might come. It asks for a truly Christian response, by the sufficient power of God: to meet whatever comes as a true Christian should meet it, with the Holy spirit's gifts of fortitude, patience, and joy. It asks for the power to give thanks. It takes power, doesn't it, to thank the Father when everything in us protests? But we find in Him (not always in what happens to us) plenty of reason to thank Him and plenty of power."

I am going to memorize Colossians 1:9-12...I want to be ready to pray when there is a need.

Have a glorious weekend!