If you have ever listened to financial guru Dave Ramsey on the air, when someone calls in and asks, “How are you Dave?” he will always answer, “Better than I deserve.” I suspect you have heard that expression before. If you understand grace then you know “better than I deserve” is certainly a pretty good definition of grace. But let’s take a look at it another way this time.
I was reading a devotion from Our Journey and the writer (Nancy Leigh DeMoss) was writing about gratitude and humility. She included several quotes from Henry Ward Beecher that I thought were pretty good:
“A humble mind is the soil out of which thanks naturally grows.”
“A proud man is seldom a grateful man, for he never thinks he gets as much as he deserves.”
I have noticed (no, it doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure it out either) that some people ooze an attitude of gratitude while some simply ooze an attitude. The grateful heart has no set limits nor is it limited to a set type of person. The rich can be miserable while the poor joyful, and the converse can also be true. The one hit hard by circumstances that would choke an elephant can be filled with joy, while the one who has the wind blowing in his favor can be in the doldrums.
Being grateful and being filled with grace comes to all who know who they are in Christ. While I don’t wallow in my past, I keep the perspective of “there but for the grace of God go I.” It raises the praise and the gratitude level immensely. God intervened intervenes in my life on a constant basis. I can miss it by keeping focused on me or I can bask in the glow of His love and grace by keeping my eyes fixed on Him. When I do that, and come to Him with a humble heart, I will see that He has truly given me more than I deserve. That is where the two Beecher quotes are so fitting. Humility brings thanksgiving while pride brings dissatisfaction.
After yesterday’s post on tithing and the responses this is a “tame” one. 🙂 But I just sense a need to switch gears and focus on gratitude in my own life right now. I offer it to you with a challenge: choose humility and thanksgiving, then you will truly see that God is good far beyond what we deserve. What about you? Have you seen that you have been blessed beyond what you deserve? Even more…have you expressed it? If you care to, I would love to hear from you.
I guess my own personal challenge is to notice little details all the time – sometimes the big things eclipse the small ones but those details are also blessings and there are so many of them if one cares to pay attention.
Someone once told me, “Instead of counting sheep to fall asleep, try counting all the blessings God has given you that day – you’ll fall asleep before you reach the end of the long list.”
But yes, He certainly gives me WAY more than I would ever deserve. Thanks for reminding me of that, Bill 🙂
Good comment Zee. It is sometimes hard to notice the little things. Glad you are doing that. thanks for coming by.
Side: to all who are reading this. Zee is doing a multi-part series of posts based around Les Miz. You will want to read it. click on her name above and it will take you right to her site. 🙂
I deserve the eternal wrath of the Father. A million years from now….I will still never wrap my arms around the precious Gospel of Jesus Christ. He saved me…and that is enough!
Absolutely Ike. I agree 110%. thanks for taking the time to comment.
My wife and my son come to mind first. The relationships in my life, people such as you, Dusty, Jason, Jason, and Kely all come to mind.
You are right Michael. we can never forget those who have in influence upon us. I am honored that you would include me. thanks.
I agree with the quote. I think humility shines the light and pride dims the light. I don’t think God sits around and decides who gets blessings and who doesn’t. Good things happen to bad people and bad things happen to good people. The right attitude determines how we deal with both.
I like your thought of humility shines the light and pride dims it. I also do not think God sits around doing that either. Thanks Jeff for the comment.
Every.single.day.
I am in awe every day when I think about all the blessings God has showered (and continues to shower) on me in my life…..
The song “Who am I” {Casting Crowns} comes to mind…..
Happy I stopped by this morning, Bill……
oh, and I am thankful for your friendship too! 🙂
Gotta agree about being in awe Michelle. every day. Thanks for taking the time to stop by. And thanks for the kind words. I am humbled by them.
I try to ooze an attitude of gratitude consistently but that is not always the case. I am always overwhelmed by the thought of how richly I am blessed even in the midst of times that I think are so hard.
Thanks for the reminder and thanks for all your prayers and your friendship.
Jim: I can sense that ooze whenever I read you blog. That one today is hilarious. (I encourage you all to swing by his blog). I appreciate your friendship and comment.
Thanks for the encouragement for people to come and laugh at my lack of tire changing skills! 🙂
Who me? Did I say something?
Yes, Bill far,far, far more than I deserve.Or should I be grateful for getting far, far, far LESS than I deserve??!! I am so grateful, overwhelmed by the reality of God’s grace. Thank you Bill!
I like to way you looked at it tom. I never even gave that a thought. Far, far more or far, far less. Hmmmm. 🙂 Thanks for the comment.
Once again, another off topic comment from me: i enjoy how when i read your blog your go to all the trouble of crossing out words to make a point instead of just not putting them in there. Brings the point home more I htink.
Thanks jay. 🙂
“Have you seen that you have been blessed beyond what you deserve?”
Any time I don’t think I’ve been blessed beyond what I deserve I think of the fact I deserve a horrific death and eternal torment. I’m very glad I don’t get what I deserve. 🙂
Well put Jason. Thanks.
Hi Bill,
What I’ve seen is the compromise of values, ethics, equity that is taking place in the legal institutions and I am very thankful that God has guided me in a better way.
Our moral standards are a huge blessing in our lives. I think we underestimate the value of these types of things for us. As we conform our lives to the Word of God we see how much God’s ways preserve and protect us. How much God’s ways teach us and how much wisdom is in God’s ways.
The best thing is these things can’t be stolen from us, they can’t be corrupted by the world, but they can be passed on to others. 🙂 We can teach others to do what we have done. ‘Go into the world and make disciples’.
Can we be grateful? Should we be grateful? For sure. ‘Oh God, you are so good to me’. ‘Keep me faithful, keep me true, to You’
I could put you to sleep with the amount of things I am thankful for. I’ve been so ridiculously blessed that when I stop to think, I’m overwhelmed to the point of tears.
That God has been “good” to me, is an understatement of tragic proportions.
Putting me to sleep Tony? I doubt it. I would be thrilled to no end to hear how God is blessing you. so glad you are seeing His blessings and thanking Him for them. Thanks for coming by.
This is SO TIMELY for me!!!! I have so much to say about this but can not do it on this public forum. Suffice it to say, I am struggling with a family member who has not grasped this……… Please say a little prayer for me, and my family member. Thanks!!! XO, Pinky
Psalm 92:1 “It is a good thing to give thanks unto the LORD, and to sing praises unto thy name, o most high.”
It’s good to be grateful…thanks Bill!