God's commands: Burden or Blessing?

Many many people both within and outside the faith look at God's commandments as burdensome.

Put bluntly, they're looking at them incorrectly.

You see, we have this worldly understanding of the word command that bites at us. We don't like to be told what to do, so we tend to fight back, or worse, we do it begrudgingly.  This is because we believe we know better, that we know what's best for us.

But try to remember back to when you were a toddler, and your parents said "no".  Many of us were quite angry at hearing it. But hopefully over time we learned that our parents knew better than us, and that they had and have our best interest at heart. Unfortunately, many had a different type of experience, where perhaps their parents didn't know better.  This is just another example of how flawed we are as people, even as parents.

But God isn't flawed.  He's perfect. He's a good good Father. Now, it's up to you whether you believe that or not, but it is 100% true. And once you absorb this truth into your heart, you'll realize quite clearly that his commands are not burdensome. On the contrary, they are the greatest blessings of your life. They are what will make you into the man or woman you were created to be. The best you.

God loves you, and wants the best for you. He is infinitely wise. He created you. And he created you for a purpose ... and he can guide you to if you let him.

Let Him.

Your statutes are wonderful, therefore I obey them.
The unfolding of your words gives light, it gives understanding to the simple.
I open my mouth and pant, longing for your commands.
Turn to me and have mercy on me, as you always do to those who love your name.
Direct my footsteps according to your word, let no sin rule over me.
Redeem me from the oppression of men, that I may obey your precepts.
Make your face shine upon your servant and teach me your decrees.
Streams of tears flow from my eyes, for your law is not obeyed.
Psalm 119:129-136

God, I thank you ...

God I thank you for a list of things too long to mention in one sitting. The list would fill reams of paper, if I really sat and thought about it. 

I thank you for allowing me to wake up this morning and spend another day in your incredible creation.

I thank you for the breath in my lungs. I thank you for a beating heart, eyes that see, ears that hear, fingers that touch, a tongue that tastes.  I thank you for legs that carry me, and arms that can show love through a hug, or a hand up, or an act of service.

I thank you for the beauty of the sky, of clouds, trees, flowers, of fields of wheat, of the reflective nature of a still lake.

I thank you for the inner and outer beauty of my wife, of my kids, of my parents, of my sister, of my cousins, aunts and uncles, of my close friends, of my brothers and sisters in Christ.

I thank you for the opportunity to live a life that praises you, that worships you, that shows your love and your light to this world.

I thank you for waking me up, God, and showing me the light. I thank you that, despite my sin and the fact that I continue to sin, that you loved me so much that you sent your only begotten Son to die for me ... and if I were the only person on earth, in your glorious creation, he still would have died for me. Just me.

God, I pray that I live a life of thanks, of appreciation for the avalanche of blessings that you have showered upon me and my family.

Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good. His love endures forever.

Happy Thanksgiving all.