Read the transcript from today's video devotional.
I want you to think about the best gift that you've ever received. One of the fondest gifts that I can remember came from my daughter. I'm really into pens, and I know that sounds like a weird hobby, but I'm a pastor. You got to give me some credit there. I'm specifically into vintage fountain pens. I love researching these things and learning about the history and seeing the differences between this year to that year and the different materials and how they affect the pen.
It's just honestly really fascinating to me. Over the years, of all my researching, I have built a very large wish list because these pens aren't necessarily cheap, and so I only buy one every once in a while. My daughter knows that I'm really into these pens. One year for a holiday, she wanted to get me a fountain pen for a gift, and my wife knew that I was a little bit nitpicky with what I was looking for. She let me know that my daughter wanted one and I just said, let her pick what she wants to pick.
When I opened the pen, do you think that this was the most valuable pen, or the most expensive or the rarest pen? No. She picked it based off of the color that she thought was my favorite color. Was the pen thoughtful and so sweet and so precious? Absolutely. Even though this pen wasn't on my wish list, it has become my favorite gift and my favorite pen that I've ever received.
God is Always Worthy of Our Praise
I think that sometimes we can have a running wish list with God, all the gifts that we want Him to give us, and if He doesn't give us those specific gifts, I think sometimes we might feel like He's not giving us anything at all, that He's not working. I think the reality is that there are probably gifts that God is giving us that we're not even aware of, simply because they're not on our wish list.
I want us to read this verse today. It comes from James chapter 1 and verse 17. The author writes, "Whatever is good and perfect is a gift coming down to us from God our Father, who created all the lights in the heavens. He never changes or casts a shifting shadow."
Think about all of the gifts that you're asking for right now from God. Maybe it's for that new job, or to win the game this weekend, or to get into your top school. Now I want you to ask yourself, how would you feel if God didn't give you any of those things right now? Would He still be worthy of your praises?
Recognizing God's Good Gifts
God is our Heavenly Father and He wants to give us good gifts, but they're not always the gifts on our wish list. I want you to think about all of the good things in your life, from the simplest of things to the most miraculous. The fact that you woke up this morning, the fact that you ate something, that you had clothes to wear, that you had friends you could text, family to check in on, or maybe something even as great as you finally got the good news that you've been waiting for from your doctor.
All of these good things, all of these things we would call perfect in our life, those aren't just random or happenstance. Those are gifts from God, your Heavenly Father who loves you. Today, let's open our eyes to see all of the good things in our lives because they are from God for you. He loves you, He cares about you. Even if it's not on your wish list, let's praise God for all of the good gifts that He gives us.
