[image: Trucking Along, 2013, JA Van Devender]
Ephesians 5:18–20 (NKJV)
18 And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit, 19 speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord, 20 giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ,
Preparing for worship is to prepare to praise... to make melody in my heart by giving thanks always for all things.
Why is gratitude something that has to be stirred up? Why is one so obviously blessed yet forced to engage the sinful disposition of ingratitude? Why? Because the fallen disposition is too prone to see blessings as "what we deserve" while considering the things that burden us as being unjust. How exactly opposite the truth this is!
"Count your many blessings... count them one by one... count your many blessings that the Lord has done!" goes the old hymn (I think). It takes only a moment to consider how far in excess abundance are my blessings and how passing and ultimately inconsequential are my trials. Even trials can be understood as blessings though not to be taken lightly.
Our God... my God... has graced me with life, liberty about which millions can only dream, relative prosperity, warmth of companionship and health, and useful work in which to be employed. Above and beyond His gracious providential blessings stands the redemptive blessings showered upon me in Christ. In Him I have received "every" good thing. He is mine and I am His. Where He is one day I shall be. He has bound Himself to me with cords of love stronger than any shackles of metal. His blood has cleansed me of every sin even the guilt of ingratitude.
How can I not sing and make melody in my heart? How can I not widen my eyes in astonishment and have my spirit burst forth in exclamation, "How can it be, that I should gain, an interest in the Savior's blood?" Is this not the "Wonderful Grace of Jesus, greater than all my sin"? Is this not proof that "Jesus Loves Me?" Why? "Because the Bible tells me so!"
Truly with such "Amazing Grace" I can sing as I go "truckin' along". The Lord God stands over and behind me as a "Mighty Fortress", a "Rock that is Greater than I." His majesty and power stands guard over me against all His and my enemies. I shall not fail because He is with me... His rod and HIs staff they comfort me.
Now I can enter into His courts with praise and into His gates with thanksgiving, because I remember His wonderful works to the children of men.
"Praise God from whom ALL blessings flow."
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