I woke up feeling unusually warm and cozy inside. Only one thing on my list to do. Cool! I rolled over and snugged the covers up around my neck. All I have to do today, according to my twenty-one day challenge, is connect with God. But how?
The verse, “Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise” (Psalm 100:4) came to mind. I’d recently discovered that “thanking God” is a powerful key that opens the gates of my heart. And “praising God” ushers me into his presence. Thanking and praising would be two great ways to connect with God.
Thank you, God, for this nice soft bed, for family and friends, and for loving me so much you want to spend the whole day with me. I praise you for your kindness toward me and your patience with me.
I sat up, slid out of bed, then turned and looked at the crumpled bedding. I’d promised God I would spend my whole day connecting with him. Could I make the bed while talking with him? Multi-task? Sure I could. Lord, I praise you for wonderfully making these hands and arms that can tug covers into place, and these legs that can move me around the room.
I brushed my teeth, showered, and got dressed while intermittently thanking God for whatever came to mind. Then I stopped and thought now, what am I doing today? Connecting with God—oh yeah. My heart warmed again.
But today was my grocery shopping day. Could I maintain my conversation with God and shop at the same time? I’d give it a try.
I walked over to the kitchen counter to grab my purse and spied the church bulletin with its list of school supplies needed for a local school drive. What do you think, God? I stuffed the list into my purse. Maybe I’d pick up a just a few of the items, if they were on sale.
Once I got to the store, I strolled the aisles, thanking God for the bounty of food available, and my ability to purchase it. I noticed myself smiling at people pushing their carts toward me. Strange, I usually only noticed people when they were in my way. When I came to the school supply section, I had a great time choosing the best bargains, and prayerfully deciding which items the kids might like the most.
At the check-out counter, the elderly lady in front of me suddenly shifted from one foot to the other, then blurted, “Oh, I forgot the bottled water.”
The clerk grabbed the phone by the cash register, and I heard “Ted, bottled water for check-stand five” echo over the loudspeakers.
The gray-haired lady turned and looked at me, blushing.
“It’s okay. I’m in no hurry.” I smiled. After all, I was already doing the one thing on my list—connecting with God.
The Never Ending Gifts 