THAT FIRST BITE

I took a bite of omelet and silently thanked God for it. I was hungry and it tasted exceptionally delicious. I really appreciated the subtle flavors and melted cheese, and I stopped a moment to think about God’s wonderful care and supply.

I know that I often hurriedly grab something to eat and don’t even remember to thank God for it. At least I did give thanks this time, but I was convicted by my prayer, because there was something wrong with the timing of it. I could have thanked Him before the first bite, before I knew it was delicious.

Then I remembered the words of King David: “This is the day that the Lord hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.” Whenever I want to learn about gratitude, I read David’s psalms. After listing his problems, he always gives glory to God. But the thing that seemed significant to me about this particular verse is that he tells us to wake up to a new day, give God the glory for it and say—even before it begins—that we will rejoice and be glad.

Sometimes I go to bed at night and thank God: “This has been a really good day. Thank You for all the good things that happened, for all I got done, for good health and a happy family.” But that isn’t the kind of gratitude David was talking about.

He was talking about being thankful and happy for the day before it begins. He is telling us to determine at the break of dawn that we are going to be happy and have a really good day. I guess that’s like thanking God for the omelet before I taste it. We should thank Him in the morning, even if a storm blows in later in the day. We should determine to be happy, even if some difficulties roll in. Whether it’s an omelet, a new day, or even a new year, we can be thankful no matter what.

It is good and fitting for one to eat and drink, and to enjoy the good of all his labor in which he toils under the sun all the days of his life which God gives him; for it is his heritage. … God keeps him busy with the joy of his heart.—Ecclesiastes 5:18,20

Gratitude to God makes even a temporal blessing a taste of heaven.—William Romaine (1714–1795)

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1 Corinthians 6:12 ESV / “All things are lawful for me,” but not all things are helpful. “All things are lawful for me,” but I will not be enslaved by anything.

John 14:6 ESV / Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

John 6:53 ESV / So Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you.