An Ode to the Pleasures of Goodness

 2 Thessalonians 1:11 TPT

...we constantly pray that our God will empower you to live worthy of all that he has invited you to experience. And we pray that by his power all the pleasures of goodness and all works inspired by faith would fill you completely. 

I pray God will empower me to live worthy of all He has invited me into. I am privileged to have been invited into a good marriage, a job I enjoy, the lives of children and grandchildren who are wonderful people-each with a unique personality and purpose of life, and into the reality of being invited into the Kingdom of God.

What gifts, what privilege! I do want to live worthy of all of that.

I also want to be empowered to be filled completely with all the pleasures of goodness and works inspired by faith.

The pleasures of goodness for me include cool early mornings sitting on our deck watching daylight make its slow, but overpowering-darkness-debut. Sometimes the sky greets the daylight, decked out with a suit of pink and orange, as though prophesying a day full of color and happiness.

I listen for the first bird to awaken and give voice to the new day. A deer steps out of the woods, cautiously, and stares at me, unsure of my presence in this quiet morning. I hear the soft whirring buzz of the hummingbird approaching the feeder. I watch his needle-like beak dive into the tiny opening to slurp the syrup inside. His wings beat so fast, that I all I see is the motion they make, like not being able to make out the blades on a spinning helicopter propeller. 

As I open my Bible the pleasures of the goodness of his wisdom and insights do fill me. The Psalm I read invites me to sing along with the worship and praise the psalmist expresses. 

I ask now, my God, that your power would fill me with works inspired by faith. I've already offered works of prayer. I look forward to the other works you've planned out for me today. My heart is full of gratitude for your abundance and generosity. 

Hail to the King! May your kingdom come and your will be done on earth as it's done in heaven!