Take it for granted . . .

by Dan Curry

    There are certain things that we really do not think about very much.   When you get up in the morning you probably are not thinking that you are alive and breathing because that happens every day. You walk in bathroom and you flip a switch and the light comes on.  You turn the handle on the faucet and the water comes out.  You probably do not think about those things at all unless they do not work.  If for some reason the light does not come on then you wonder what happened or if the water did not come out like it was supposed to then you would think about it.  If you did not wake up, well, you would not have to think about that I suppose. 

    

But let’s do think about that for a moment.  When you woke up and did all that you normally do each morning; did you pause and thank God for the day?  One of my favorite verses in the book of Psalms is found in the 118^th chapter and verse 24: This is the day which the LORD has made; Let us rejoice and be glad in it.

   

    The true living God of heaven allowed this day to happen and everyone should be giving Him the praise, glory and thanksgiving for it.  Instead we seemingly rush around and take it for granted.  Maybe even saying that we will do some things tomorrow or even next week or next month and not realizing that those may not come for us.  One day this life will end and we should treat each day as a gift.  It has been said that it why it is called the “present”. 

    

    This is not something new or ground breaking but something that I do think about from time to time.  It should be on our minds constantly.  Remember the words of Jesus in Luke 12:16-21

And He told them a parable, saying, "The land of a rich man was very productive.  "And he began reasoning to himself, saying, 'What shall I do, since I have no place to store my crops?'  "Then he said, 'This is what I will do: I will tear down my barns and build larger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods.   'And I will say to my soul, "Soul, you have many goods laid up for many years to come; take your ease, eat, drink and be merry."'    "But God said to him, 'You fool! This very night your soul is required of you; and now who will own what you have prepared?'  "So is the man who stores up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God."

                                        

And in Matthew 6:33-34

"But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.  "So do not worry about tomorrow; for tomorrow will care for itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

    When we do take things for granted then we become complacent and when things go wrong we are upset.  Have a thankful attitude at all times giving the glory to God in Christ every day.

Philippians 4:4-7

Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice!  Let your gentle spirit be known to all men. The Lord is near.  Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.  And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.