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Writer's pictureDeborah

UN Grateful








Isaiah 41:10 NKJV

Colossians 31:5 NKJV

Psalm 28:7 NKJV

Matthew 6:21 NKJV


I write a lot about gratitude for a reason. I read how gratitude affects the brain In a very positive way and it is a gift that keeps on giving us Serotonin and Dopamine. Since that time I asked God to remind me to be grateful. *See the link at the end of today’s post.

As I write this I am reminded that I am very grateful for Isaiah 41:10, “Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”


God specifically sent that verse to me when I needed it most. It was at a time when was feeling very UN grateful.

It had been a long discouraging week. I was headed to see my Mom which is normally about a half day trip. At the halfway point I stopped to get gas and when I tried to start the car again all it would do is sputter.


So, I prayed.

Nothing changed.


I called for a tow and an hour later it was sitting inside a mechanic’s shop.


By evening the mechanic thought he knew what the problem was and the part was ordered.

Day 2

The part came in but it was not the right part. Apparently this car changed parts mid-year and we were sent the other part.


Thankfully, a motel was within walking distance and I was able to walk back and forth to check on the car. However, I was getting frustrated. I continued to pray.


On the second day as I prayed God told me to read Isaiah 41:10. I didn’t recall reading that verse before. I was pretty sure I had never memorized it.


To recap, it says:

Fear not, for I am with you;

be not dismayed, for I am your God;

I will strengthen you,

I will help you,

I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”


As I read it, I felt like God was specifically saying the verse TO me. The Spirit was holding onto me. I felt like it was a promise.

On day 2 I discovered the motel had a great pool and a hot tub. That meant I was able to get rid of some of my stress as I relaxed and meditated. No one was in the pool/hot tub so it was completely quiet.


Ahhhh…

Day 3

The new part came in and by that afternoon it had been installed and everything had been checked out.


I prayed.

They put the key in and I heard the sputter, sputter, sputter sound again.

Really, God?


I was still hoping it would start by the end of day 3, but nothing had changed.

As I walked back to the motel I repeated Isaiah 41:10. I still felt like God knew what He was doing but I sure didn’t know what that was.


I went back to the hot tub. It was a help, but I was still wondering what I was going to do if they couldn’t get the car running.


That night I read Colossians 3:15, “And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in the one body. And be thankful.”


Be thankful and be especially grateful. So, I made a list in my head. I tried to relax.


Day 4

That morning I continued to recite Isaiah 41:10. For my morning reading I included Psalm 28:7, “The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusted in Him, and I am helped; therefore my heart greatly rejoices, and with my song I will praise Him.”


I will praise Him. I went back to the shop to check on the car.

By noon the car still wouldn’t start, so I started making arrangements to get the car back home. I was going to have someone come get me and the car on day 5.

I’m not sure what happened, but by late afternoon they had the car running.

It was too late to drive back home and I decided I was not going to continue my trip so I early the next morning I went back home.

The next morning as I drove back I recited Isaiah 41:10 again and I remembered Matthew 6:21. It says, “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”

If gratitude to God is your treasure, your heart will be there also. I was grateful the car was running again.

Months later I’m still not sure why I had that mini vacation, but I am most grateful that God gave me Isaiah 41:10. Sometimes we don’t know why things happen like they do. There are things we may never know, like why I had a mini vacation. For now, I’m grateful for scripture. I’m grateful I was able to get back home.


And I’m ever so grateful that the Spirit of God is alive and active in my life. The Spirit gave me Isaiah 41:10, Colossians 31:5, Psalm 28:7, and Matthew 6:21.

Today’s Spiritual Practice is: Ask God


Ask God to give you a scripture. Listen. Memorize it…carry it in your heart and even if you have UN grateful moments, be grateful for that scripture.

In God, Deborah

*For more information on gratitude you can go to https://positivepsychology.com/neuroscience-of-gratitude/


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