Grateful for Good

God has been good to us. His goodness is liberal and long lasting. His goodness is far- reaching. It extends to the embarrassment of failure and to the pride of success. His goodness is good. If we could eat the goodness of God it would not only satisfy our hunger, but fill us with trusting delight. Because He is God, He is good. There is nothing that soils the character of our Savior. The salvation we have in Jesus is good. The comfort we have in Christ is good. The wisdom we gain by applying God’s principles is good. His answers to prayer are good. His forgiveness is good. His grace is good. Heaven is good. God is so good to us. We can’t help but exclaim His goodness in praise and adoration. We sing to the Lord because His goodness compels us.

“Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God” (Colossians 3:16).

Gratitude gushes forth from a heart that has been tamed by the goodness of God. God has been good to us. The recognition of His goodness governs our gratitude. To the extent we remember how good God is to us, is the degree of appreciation we apply in our everyday life. His goodness to us draws out gratitude in spades. His goodness invites gratitude. Moreover, He extends His goodness to us personally. It is not just one gigantic, corporate application of goodness to a nation that allows freedom of religion and free enterprise. He applies His goodness to our individual situations, as a mother who prepares a delicious meal for her family. Perhaps He has given us a good job, good health, good sense, a good house, and a good family. It is the grace of God that allows us to experience His goodness. When we linger under the cross of Christ, we encounter the shade of His goodness. As the song says, “God is so good. God is so good. God is so good. He’s so good to me.”

Therefore, when we are under the bright light of God’s goodness, any influence of bad is blinded. Gratitude and a bad attitude cannot coexist. Take the time to list the good things the Lord has done for you. Keep your list close by so when you are tempted to complain over trivial issues like traffic, another’s tardiness, waiting in line, or not getting what you want, you can apply gratitude. People worldwide who love Jesus and make one dollar a day do this all the time. They do not allow their circumstances or financial limitations determine their gratitude. They are grateful because of the goodness of God that governs their attitude and actions. Passion may possess an unbridled body, but patience controls a grateful soul. His goodness beckons us to be good.

Goodness gives off goodness. It rubs off on others. God’s goodness infects us so that we can infect others. We are “carriers” for Christ. We are good to others because God has been good to us. Our goodness does not discriminate. We are good to others even when they are undeserving. This is the nature of God’s goodness. Be patient with the one who doesn’t deserve patience. Love the one who’s done nothing to deserve love. Forgive the one who doesn’t deserve forgiveness. This is good. This is what Jesus would do. Receive God’s goodness. Apply it gratefully. He has been so extremely good to us.

Taken from Reading #9 in the 90-day devotional book, “Seeking God in the Psalms”… http://bit.ly/bQHNIE

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