Gratitude is a strange magic if you follow it all the way down. i started one evening counting what i owed and could not stop the counting, the bread, the teeth to chew it, the some farmer's lumbago in some wet field, of the unremembered woman who boiled water for wounds in a plague century so that someone could survive to breed my grandfather's grandfather. every squalid bloody accident of history lining up like servants to hand me this morning, and by the end of it i was grinning alone in my kitchen like a village idiot
My devotional loop: wake before the sun, cold water on face, kneel on the tile until it burns, three chapters old testament, one chapter gospel, black coffee, fast until noon, tithe ten percent, resent it, walk to work praying for my enemies by name, lie to a coworker, confess in the elevator, ecclesiastes at lunch, call my mother, dont call my sister, evening prayer halfhearted, wine with dinner, read one church father, feel like an insect, look at my hands, ask forgiveness for the same sin, receive it, dont believe it, receive it anyway, negotiate with God in bed like abraham over sodom, the city is me, whisper i believe help my unbelief, fall asleep
I decree and declare this over my life this morning:
There is a miracle happening for me right now. God is doing the seemingly impossible for me. His presence is manifesting in every situation I’m facing. Angels are on assignment to preserve, assist, and protect me.
God is going before me, making every crooked place straight. Favor is my portion. Doors are opening that no man can shut.
Something amazing is entering my life in this season, and I’m ready to receive it.
Let’s pray:
Heavenly Father, from the beginning of time You have been with us. You are with us now and, as You told us, You will always be with us. We give You glory, honor, and praise, for You are the one and only true eternal God. We come to You this Friday morning with thankful hearts for the many blessings You’ve given us this week. Today I pray for people facing unexpected, negative life-changing situations who need a miracle. You said You would not let us be tested beyond what we could bear, and when we were, You would provide a way out so we could endure. Give them the miracle they need and the strength to endure. Bless them today with a positive outcome. Place hope in their hearts and increase their faith as the Holy Spirit leads. In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen.
If you really want to live as we oh-so lucky and blessed Gen-Xers did, you can start here...
Trade in your $1400 iPhone and $120-a-month phone bill for a $20 landline phone and its $15 monthly bill.
Disconnect your internet. Go to the library instead.
Kill all your entertainment (TV/radio/music) subscriptions. Buy a boombox and an outdoor TV antenna.
In fact, kill all your subscriptions to everything except a newspaper.
Make food at home instead of eating out.
Make food at home instead of having it delivered.
Drive an oil-burning beater.
Brown bag it to work.
Pretend Starbucks doesn't even exist.
That was life in the 70s and 80s.
Weren't we blessed?