The Mystery That Moves a Grumbly Heart To Become a Grateful Heart

I love the word ‘grumbly’.

 

It conjures up many images, first off for me, the character of Pooh, in Winnie the Pooh, who was ‘so very rumbly in his tumbly‘.  Pooh’s tummy was ever hungry – always grumbling in the background – expressing that gnawing want and need to be fed.

 

Pooh’s tummy is so like my heart – a bit grumbly – always wanting more. Never quite satisfied.

 

It cries out often – it growls – ‘Feed me, now’. What my eyes see on Instagram – my heart often wants – whether or not its good for me, or mine to have.

 

Wants and hungers and appetites. The dull growl for ‘more-more-more’! I understand. But, what do I do?

 

I still remember reading Psalm 23 during fall quarter of college sitting in my small apartment and stumbling upon words I had read before, but never truly seen:

“The Lord is my Shepherd. I shall not want.”

 My heart stopped. My mouth dropped open. I may have held my breath for a moment while I re-read the words – just to make sure I read them right – “I shall not want.”

 

I can’t say those words digested themselves easily – they didn’t. They sat there in my gut – a big unmoving lump – and they returned to my mind repeatedly in the next year, never fully digested. Even the next ten years, I knew those words were true but, my life of faith didn’t know exactly how to walk those words out.

 

I’m sure you’ve heard it before – the longest journey you’ll ever take is the 18 inches from your head to your heart.

 

I get it. Knowing something in my head doesn’t always make it to my heart. There is a difference between believing something – knowledge – and acting on something. Eighteen inches of difference.

 

To be honest, the truth of ‘I shall not want’ is still working its way from my head down into the heart of me.

 

It’s happening as I exercise my trust muscles of faith – and do the unthinkable – give thanks – in everything.

 

I must look want in the face and fill that void of want with the truth of God.  I must ground myself in truth.

I must speak truth into my heart. Truth. Pure and simple. Fill ‘er up!

 

I’m coming to the conclusion that this simple giving thanks is a life changer. It truly fills the void – the wants – the  needs – in me.

 

In a physical sense, I bow my head – it’s prayer – the distance from my head to my heart is shortened – physically moved – as is something deep inside me. It’s a God thing.

 

It happens over and over in the Psalms – David does a whole lot of lamenting – crying out and pouring out his heart desires and every need and trouble he faces (and he’s got troubles – it starts with lions, moves on to a giant – Goliath, then to King Saul who enlists his entire army to kill David),  yet somehow David always ends up in adoration and praise.

How does it happen?

 

“Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise…”

Hebrews 13:15

 

Therein lies the mystery. There is a mystery in this sacrifice of praise. It is similar to the mystery in prayer. It is the God piece. The unexplainable.

 

It happens as we pour out what we have in our hearts to give – not always pretty if you’re looking at my heart on most days (I’ve got selfish wants, neediness, greediness, and maybe a tiny slice of awe and wonder). Sometimes I start by praying a Psalm – it gives voice to some of what lies deep in me.

 

I give what I’ve got – I come as I am – God always asks for the real me – no false self. And He meets me on the altar of not so sweet stuff and adds His ingredients to the mix – the richest, most potent mercy and grace He’s got – and the batter changes.

 

Something mysterious happens on that altar of sacrifice – God transforms the mix – He makes holy and good that which was bitter. And, a change occurs deep down – in me.

 

What began as a sacrifice of fasting and neediness becomes a place of feasting – joyous celebration of the amazing richess and grace of a truly good God.

– Fasting Becomes Feasting.

– A Glass Half Empty Becomes a Glass ½ Full

– A Cry for Help Becomes a Cry of Thanks (Eugene Peterson’s “Kingfishers”)

– A Grumbly Heart Becomes a Grateful Heart

 

The very reforming of our spirits and and the enacting of God’s plan – God’s holy work. It happens when we offer ourselves on God’s altar  – and we can bring it all  (the good, the bad – be it praise or pain) – and a holy transaction takes place – a reforming of us at our center.

 

God’s mighty work in us. A beautiful thing. So, let us come. Let us offer ourselves. And, allow God to transform our grumbly places into grateful places, that His name may be praised.

Linking up with Lyli’s FaithonFire,  Deb’s Faith’NFriends