Good morning, world. Things are looking pretty good from the front porch of my farm in Virginia today. It’s a new day of a new week and there is frost on the trees on this Spring day. As much as I was longing for warmth, God had cold in mind, and I Accepted His Will with a Grateful Heart. As I entered the Presence of the Most High God this morning, it began the way it usually does…with Praise for who He is and what He does for me. I cried out “Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord God Almighty, who was, who is, who is to come!” and I imagined what it must be like to hear that praise 24 hours a day in Heaven. Next, I began to Thank Him and it was as if I couldn’t stop. I sat there for what seemed like forever, weeping with a Heart so full of gratitude. I eventually got around to making a few Requests…but the One Who stands on the Right Side of the Throne of a Mighty God knows my Heart AND He knows my needs without me ever speaking a word. His Word says, “It shall come to pass That before they call, I will answer; And while they are still speaking, I will hear” and it brings me indescribable Peace to Know that He is already in tomorrow and that He Knows my needs even before I do. Isn’t that the way it is for you too?

It doesn’t take much effort for people to shout out a “thank you” to God when things are running smoothly, but it isn’t so easy for some to thank Him in the storm. It’s almost as if all the Good He does day after day is diminished when His people go through a season of suffering. They’ll beg Him to hear their prayers and plead with Him to fix things RIGHT NOW. But do they THANK Him for what He is doing IN the storm…those things they cannot see? Do they Trust Him with the Purpose behind the suffering or do they spend time questioning Him for why He isn’t fixing things the way He’s supposed to? Are they willing to Surrender to His Will ESPECIALLY when they don’t know the rest of the story? His Word is clear when it comes to the trials – “And we know that ALL things work together for good for those who love Him and are all called according to His Purpose.” It’s when the storms show up that He does His BEST Work and it’s when the storm shows up that He can be Glorified the most! Thank Him for what He’s doing in the storm!

Most people know who God is and many proclaim their faith in Him -but even the demons know who God is and they shudder at the sound of His name. Some people are admirably faithful to ritualistic prayers day after day and some are in the church every time the doors are open. But there’s much more to the Journey of Faith than these things. I’m sure those things don’t go completely unnoticed by the Living God, but what He wants more than anything is a Heart that hungers for Him. A Heart that Trusts His Will. A Heart surrendered to Him. He wants a Heart that can’t get enough of Him…one that can’t wait to spend “quality time” with Him…one that Trusts…and Honors…one that never grows tired…one that is Faithful through thick and thin…one that never overlooks the Good to focus on the bad. It’s funny how people can easily define what it takes to have a “good relationship” with someone here on earth, while they overlook the beauty – the Characteristics – the necessity – of having a Relationship with the Living God. The King of kings and the Lord of lords wants to have a Relationship with you and me and the mere thought of that should send you to your knees and give you spiritual goosebumps! It sure does me.

The morning is cold while I was hoping for warm and the world around me appears to be in a tailspin, but that’s okay. I have profound Faith in the One who says “Before they call, I will answer; And while they are still speaking, I will hear”. My God is Faithful. My God has a Master Plan that is Perfect and I Trust Him. I love Him. I Praise Him, and I Thank Him. We have a Relationship more beautiful than anything here on earth and my Heart thirsts for Him. I’m His child…He’s my God…through thick and thin. With a Relationship like ours, how could I ever be anything less than Thankful no matter what’s going on around me?

How about you? Do you have a Relationship with Him?