Oh, give thanks to the Lord!
 Call upon His name;
 Make known His deeds among the peoples!
 Sing to Him, sing psalms to Him;
Talk of all His wondrous works!
 (1 Chr 16:8-9)

At the end of a long day, we plop ourselves down on the sofa and talk with our loved ones about our day. If we pay attention to the content, have you ever noticed that our speech often tends toward venting? No matter how well things are going, there is usually something that isn’t quite right or could be better.

While there is nothing wrong with sharing the frustrating parts of our day, let us think about how often we share the positives – if at all. Is it because we did not receive any blessings that day or they were that scarce?

While we may all agree in theory that it is good to share our joys, it can be hard to do when those things are not at the forefront of our mind. It is not easy to praise God when we are not prepared to do so, whereas we can go on and on about the things causing stress or anxiety without forethought.

Therefore, let us first be intentional about noticing His daily grace to us. Even in the most difficult trial, there is still redeeming grace that pulls us through and special mercies that make things easier to bear.  

Next, let us not keep God’s grace to ourselves!

            I will greatly praise the Lord with my mouth;
Yes, I will praise Him among the multitude.
(Ps 109:30)

We can make it a point every day to share at least one positive thing about that day. As we do this consistently, we will grow more sensitive to the numerous ways – big and small – that He brings joy to our lives. As our awareness grows, may our words of appreciation flow accordingly.

Questions for Reflection

1.      Pay attention to the content of your daily conversations. How much of the time is spent in venting versus sharing the good?

2.      Tell one person today how God has blessed you or worked in your life.