“The lines are fallen unto me in pleasant places; yes, I have a godly heritage.” (Psalm 16:6)
We are so remiss to give thanks for the blessing of Providence. We read in the Scriptures of the saints of old – Abraham, Joseph and others – how God in His mercy saved, protected, and preserved them. Yet in our temporal freedom and abundance, we fail to show gratitude to the Father of mercies. We are an ungrateful lot! And what are those mercies we so easily neglect to consider?
Statisticians tell us that only five percent of people on this earth live under true democracy. Ninety-five percent live under military, political, or religious dictatorships. Look at the list of almost 195 nations and see the poverty, physical danger, diseases, and terror that holds these people in a dungeon of hopelessness.
It was the Puritan, John Flavel, who in 1678 wrote,
“It is the duty of the saints, especially in times of straits, to reflect upon the performance of Providence for them in all the staits and through all the stages of their lives” (The Mystery of Providence, p. 20).
The doctrine of Divine Providence is sorely missed in the curriculum of most evangelical preachers today. We take for granted that we live in the “land of the free and the home of the brave.” In our 21st Century of individualism we have absorbed into our thinking a sense of self worth that is void the recognition of Providence. We are here because we are here. Individual existence is the hallmark of our joy and our goal. We are proud of our consumeristic lifestyle and our temporal abundance. We fail to realize the “pleasant places” with which we find ourselves. Some glibly ask, “Why should we thank Providence?” For what should we be giving thanks to God?
That we were born – not a beast or an insect, but a human being – a person with dignity and sanctity, made in the Image of God; most of us were placed into a family with parents who were truly thankful for us and cared for our welfare; that we had grandparents who desired to bequeath to us the beauty of freedom and unlimited opportunity; that we were reared in a land of spiritual freedom where we could choose what we believe; that here the Gospel of Jesus Christ is preached – here the Word of God is not forbidden to enter our minds and spirits; that here there are friends and institutions existing for our spiritual growth and benefit; that we are still truly free.
It is our spiritual poverty and ignorance that keeps us from recognizing God’s providence – God’s personal choice and directive for every step, influence, and blessing that have guided and rested upon our individual lives. It is time we began to say with the Psalmist,
“Shout joyfully to the Lord, all the earth. Serve the Lord with gladness; come before Him with joyful singing. Know that the Lord Himself is God; it is He who has made us, and not we ourselves; we are His people and the sheep of His pasture. Enter into His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise. Give thanks to Him; bless His name. For the Lord is good; His lovingkindness is everlasting, and His faithfulness endures to all generations” (Psalm 100).
It is time that we recognize ingratitude as the frost that chills our praise and keeps us from proclaiming to friends – and mostly to the Triune God – the gracious hand and calling, guidance, provision, and protection of the Father, the Son, and the blessed Holy Spirit who has regenerated our spirit with His life and made us partakers of God’s grace. I challenge you to read these words and ask yourself, “Am I cognizant of and grateful for God’s providence in my life every day?”
God works in wondrous ways
His perfect will to form.
His mercy rides the angry waves,
His love attends the storm.
We often wonder where He is,
when our small frail craft is tossed;
and hope gives out, and fear blows in,
and we think our course is lost.
But God never fails nor falters,
though we’re harried and swept about.
His course is onward moving;
His plans will all work out.
When you’re sore distressed and lonely,
and hope is lost on the wave,
just remember, His ways, though mysterious,
are true and He’s mighty to save.
Let life’s storms surround and beset you.
Let the tempests rage and the gale.
Take your hand from the tiller and trust Him,
He’s the Master who never can fail.
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