Romans 1:21 ICB
[21] They knew God. But they did not give glory to God, and they did not thank him. Their thinking became useless. Their foolish minds were filled with darkness.
This verse serves as a sobering reminder of the consequences of ingratitude. When we fail to give God glory and thanks for His blessings, our thinking becomes futile, and our hearts are darkened with pride. God does not share His glory with anyone, as Isaiah 42:8 reminds us: “I am the Lord; that is my name! I will not yield my glory to another or my praise to idols.” Gratitude and recognition of God’s work in our lives keep us aligned with Him, ensuring our hearts remain humble and our minds clear.
Recently, I experienced God’s hand so clearly during my search for a new school for Gracie. My journey started when she was just three months old, as I visited schools to understand their values and see if they aligned with what we teach her at home and in church. Now at four years old, it became necessary to move her from her current kindergarten due to distance. This was a tough decision, but I trusted God to lead us.
On Monday morning, I prayed for God to order our steps as we searched for the right school. That day, I visited multiple schools, including one I had seen when Gracie was an infant. While it wasn’t the final choice, it was part of the journey. Eventually, we found a school that felt like the right fit, one where I felt peace knowing it was God’s leading.
After deciding on the school, we headed to Text Book Centre to purchase her textbooks. The line was overwhelming, but just as we got there, an express counter opened, and I was redirected there, saving us hours of waiting. Then, at the uniform shop, we were given ticket number 000747. By the time we got her uniforms, it was late, and we arrived home at 11 pm, exhausted but grateful. Despite the challenges of the day, everything fell into place because of God’s guidance.
It’s easy to overlook these small moments of favor, but they are evidence of God’s presence and provision. If I had failed to acknowledge His hand in ordering our steps, providing for our needs, and granting us favor, pride could have crept in. Pride blinds us to God’s blessings and leads us to think our efforts alone made it happen. Romans 1:21 warns against this, showing how ingratitude darkens our minds and hearts.
Let us make it a habit to glorify God for every blessing, whether big or small. Let us thank Him for directing our steps, providing for us, and opening doors we couldn’t open on our own. Gratitude keeps our hearts humble and our faith strong. My prayer is that we find everything we need in Jesus alone—our schools, friends, businesses, partners, and more—and that we never cease to glorify Him for it.
Have a blessed day. 🖤