blessed be the name

Sometimes I think that the idea that "the Lord gives and the Lord takes away - blessed be the name of the Lord" is mostly bleak. I instantly jump to the phrase 'takes away' and think, "Great. Now I have to come up with a way to have a good attitude when things get taken away from me. Grumble. Groan." but I don't stop to recognize that 'the Lord gives'. He also GIVES. I am not entitled to what I have. What I have (my health, my family, my home, etc.) are gifts from God. These are not things I have attained on my own power. My feelings of entitlement and pride need to be changed to gratitude and recognition of the one who gave these to me and that ultimately, they are His. That I would always say 'blessed be the name of the Lord' - no matter what, no matter the season, no matter the instance - is what I should strive for. 

the desert song

This is my prayer in the desert
When all that's within me feels dry
This is my prayer in my hunger and need
My God is the God who provides

This is my prayer in the fire
And weakness or trial or pain
There is faith proved more worth than gold
So refine me Lord through the faith

I will bring praise
I will bring praise
No weapon formed against me shall remain

I will rejoice
I will declare
God is my victory and he is here

This is my prayer in the battle
When triumph is still on its way
I am a conquerer and co-heir with Christ
So fill my his promise ill stand

I will bring praise
I will bring praise
No weapon formed against me shall remain

I will rejoice
I will declare
God is my victory and he is here

All of my life
In every season
You are still God
I have reason to sing
I have a reason to worship

All of my life
In every season
You are still God
I have reason to sing
I have a reason to worship

I will bring praise
I will bring praise
No weapon formed against me shall remain

I will rejoice
I will declare
God is my victory and he is here

And this is my prayer in the harvest
And favor and provence flow
I know I'm filled to be empties again
The seed I receive I will sow

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I deeply desire to have the ability to declare the goodness of God always. In good times, the praises flow freely. Of course, though. Isn't that how it always is? When things are much less positive and my outlook grows dark, the praises seem to dry up. "Bringing praise" in the bad isn't always easy as I am pessimistic by nature. Add that to my tendency to be a complete control freak and you have the recipe for a disaster. However, God is bigger than my circumstances and is worthy of more than just my plaintive and accusatory cries of "Why me? Why us?!" God is good and He is FOR me. We have His promise of faithfulness and only need to look at what He is done in the past in our lives to know that He is everpresent and will see us through. 

Thank you Lord, for Your faithfulness. And I thank You for Your grace and mercy that covers me when I fall short and wallow in self-pity and doubt. I need You today, Jesus. Go before me and help me guard my thoughts and actions as I continue this particular journey that You have set before me.