Remembering Who has Done it All

May 06, 2016

One of the greatest indications of humility (which is the doorway to everything) is gratitude. Show me a man who is not consistently thankful, and I will show you a man who is proud; who feels entitled; who thinks that HE has accomplished all that has happened around him.

But the right posture for a man is to constantly remember God. “Every good and perfect gift comes down from above,” James reminds us . . . and wise is the man who sees and acknowledges this provision.

A READY PRAISE

It's illustrated by the right use of pronouns.

The usual thought and expression of man is ""Well I did this,” and “I did that."" But a humble, grateful man turns that conversation upward with the overuse of another pronoun. Look how the Psalmist exhibits this as he recounts what has happened in Israel's history in Psalm 105.

Oh give thanks to the Lord, call upon His name;

Make known His deeds among the peoples.

Sing to Him, sing praises to Him;

Speak of all His wonders.

Glory in His holy name;

• HE called for a famine . . .
• HE broke the whole staff of bread . . .
• HE sent a man . . .
• HE caused His people to be very fruitful and made them stronger than their adversaries . . .
• HE sent Moses . . .
• HE sent darkness . . .
• HE turned their waters . . .
• HE spoke . . .
• HE gave them hail . . .
• HE struck down their vines . . .
• HE spoke . . .
• HE struck down . . .
• HE brought them out . . .
• HE spread a cloud for a covering . . .
• HE brought quail and satisfied them with the bread of heaven . . .
• HE opened the rock . . .
• HE brought forth His people with joy . . .
• HE gave them the lands of the nations . . .

And so the last statement is appropriate: ""Praise THE LORD"" Don't give praise to a man, a program, a leader...let it rest where it is due. Praise HIM.

It might be a good time for you to check your pronouns. And if they're off, turn them upward, constantly and gratefully. For, as Spurgeon said of his life, our lives are “all of grace.”

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