Paying It Forward
What great things has God done in your life? How can you ever thank Him enough for that?
Verse of the Day
“Give thanks to the Lord and proclaim his greatness. Let the whole world know what he has done.”
Today’s Devotional
This is our last day of gratitude. (Are you happy or sad about that?) Have you practiced gratitude more over the last few weeks? Has it changed anything?
Have you heard of the concept of paying it forward? You do something kind for me, and I then do something kind to the next person. I had this happen to me once in a drive-through line. The person in front of me in line paid for my meal, so I was asked if I would like to pay for the food for the people behind me in line. I said “yes”, and I asked how long the chain was. The cashier told me that they were in the second hour of people choosing to pass along the kindness. All because one person made an intentional choice to be a blessing to a stranger.
What if we all chose to live our lives constantly paying it forward? In an effort to give thanks to God and proclaim the majesty of His love and grace, what if we lived each day in a spirit of passing along our gratitude through acts of service and kindness to the people we share the planet with? Doesn’t that sound fun?
I read a news story a few days ago about a high school cross country meet. A young man, most likely a freshman in high school, fell during the race and pulled a muscle. He did not think he would be able to finish the race. Two other young men, who were older, from a different high school, and of a different skin color, picked up this fallen runner and helped him to finish the race. These young men gave up the chance to finish their race in their fastest times in order to help a boy they did not know. THAT is what I think paying it forward looks like. That is a picture of the beauty of being human…if we are willing to live our lives that way.
I believe that if we were all truly grateful for God’s extravagant love for us, and we chose to show our gratitude in how we treated each other, this world would be a better place. But you and I do not need to change the whole world. We need to each live lives of gratitude exactly where we are today. I heard something in an N.T. Wright video today that makes my point: “It’s how one lives that shows what one really believes.”
I cannot do enough in this earthly life to adequately express my gratitude to God for all that He has done for me. But if I REALLY believe that the God of heaven loves me with such abandon, then why not make it my life’s goal to pay it forward to my fellow humans? It won’t be easy…but nothing worthwhile is ever easy.
Today’s Gratitude Challenge 1: Has anyone ever done anything kind for you? How can you express gratitude to this person? I read a psychological study that showed that showing kindness to others helps them to know they are valued, which increases their ability to value themselves and others. The outcome of kindness is that it builds relationships. Ephesians 4:32 tells us to be kind and compassionate to one another. Who has done this for you?
Today’s Gratitude Challenge 2: Today’s verse tell us to let the whole earth know what God has done. What, specifically, has God done for you? Write it out and offer God a sacrifice of gratitude. Then ask Him how you can live today in a way to pay forward your thanks for all that He has done for you.
LAST GRATITUDE CHALLENGE: How can you make practicing gratitude a lasting habit? What things can you put in place in your life that make practicing gratitude part of who you are?
Journal Prompts
Answer only the questions that seem relevant to you today.
What do you truly believe about God’s love for you?
What great things has God done in your life?
What would it look like for you to pay it forward, to express your gratitude to God through acts of service and kindness to other people?
What value do you place on gratitude being expressed in your life?
Who has shown kindness to you and how can you thank them for that? If they are not available to receive your thanks, how could you pay it forward?
How can you make practicing gratitude a lasting habit? What things can you put in place in your life that make practicing gratitude part of who you are?