To Appreciate The Good
“Then I heard what sounded like a great multitude, like the roar of rushing waters and like loud peals of thunder, shouting: ‘Hallelujah! For our Lord God Almighty reigns. Let us rejoice and be glad and give him glory! For the wedding of the Lamb has come, and his bride has made herself ready.’” (Revelation 19:6-7)
What do we need to appreciate the good? I mean, if something is good, of course we appreciate it, right? We are always thankful for the good stuff! But are we? Are we really appreciative of the good stuff, the good news that comes into our lives?
Think about the things you are really thankful for. Or think of the things you really think about being thankful for? Do you know what they likely have in common? They are not as frequent. You could even say they are more rare. Think about it. Are you thankful for the candy bar you just ate when you know there are enough for you to have one every day this week? Are you thankful for the $200 in clothes you just bought yourself, when you bought $150 worth last week?
It is just human nature that we seem to take for granted the things we get more frequently, and appreciate the things that happen less often. You are probably more likely to value a relationship when you waited on the person for an extended period of time as opposed to bouncing from relationship to relationship. This is just human nature.
God knows this. He created us. And that is why there are bad times, for us to appreciate the good. If there was no evil, you would not have sinned. And had we not sinned, we would not have needed Jesus to live a perfect life and die on the cross for our sins. If we did not go through the valleys, the mountains would not be nearly as special.
So you might ask the question, why do we have to go through such difficult times in life? First, because God wants you to grow from them. He wants to continue to mold you into the image of Jesus. But also so that you appreciate the good. What good have you taken for granted recently? Spend time reflecting today and thank God for the things we too often take for granted.
What do we need to appreciate the good? I mean, if something is good, of course we appreciate it, right? We are always thankful for the good stuff! But are we? Are we really appreciative of the good stuff, the good news that comes into our lives?
Think about the things you are really thankful for. Or think of the things you really think about being thankful for? Do you know what they likely have in common? They are not as frequent. You could even say they are more rare. Think about it. Are you thankful for the candy bar you just ate when you know there are enough for you to have one every day this week? Are you thankful for the $200 in clothes you just bought yourself, when you bought $150 worth last week?
It is just human nature that we seem to take for granted the things we get more frequently, and appreciate the things that happen less often. You are probably more likely to value a relationship when you waited on the person for an extended period of time as opposed to bouncing from relationship to relationship. This is just human nature.
God knows this. He created us. And that is why there are bad times, for us to appreciate the good. If there was no evil, you would not have sinned. And had we not sinned, we would not have needed Jesus to live a perfect life and die on the cross for our sins. If we did not go through the valleys, the mountains would not be nearly as special.
So you might ask the question, why do we have to go through such difficult times in life? First, because God wants you to grow from them. He wants to continue to mold you into the image of Jesus. But also so that you appreciate the good. What good have you taken for granted recently? Spend time reflecting today and thank God for the things we too often take for granted.
Free Email Devotional - Sign Up Now
Recent
Archive
2026
January
When Prayer Feels Like Bad ReceptionTeach Us to Pray AgainRelationship Over RequestsPulled Toward HeavenWhen God Says No, Slow, Grow, or GoPray Bigger PrayersPray Without Ceasing in Real LifeWhen Persistence Feels PointlessWhen Darkness Reacts to LightWorship as WarfareChains Fall in His PresenceNot Who I Used to BeWhen God Reveals the BattleNo Fear in the Presence of PowerSet Free to WorshipVictory Is NowWhat You Love, You ShareGod Has a Brag Book, and You’re in ItThe Moment You Missed and the Mercy That RemainsBetter Today Than YesterdayAvailability Over AbilityThe Search for SignificanceWhen God Sets Up the MomentExplain the Hope Within YouThe Gospel Starts Where People AreSalt Has to Leave the ShakerWhat Defines You Determines YouYou’re Richer Than You RealizeThe Quiet Sin No One ConfessesYou Can’t Serve Two MastersThe Token That Stopped Spending
February
A Prophetic EarLearning the Voice You Hear Every DayAdopted, Not ToleratedThe Same Spirit Lives in YouWhy Jesus Chose DependenceExisting Versus Truly LivingWhen God Interrupts Your RoutineConviction Calls You Up, Not OutHe Who Gets the Son Gets It AllLet the Word Get in YouThe Book You Never FinishWhen You Finally Taste What’s BetterGod Is Speaking Every Time You Open the BibleFreedom Comes from Knowing the TruthThe Holy Spirit Works with What You StoreYou Might Be the Only Bible They ReadThe Word You Read Today Might Be for Someone Else TomorrowA Love Letter, Not a Rule BookFaith That Moves Without ProofWhen Desperation Strips Away DignityTrusting God in the SmokeThe Miracle Was Not Just for YouWhen Familiarity Kills ExpectationThe Timing of God Is Never AccidentalA Savior Who Shows Up to Ordinary MomentsWhen the Wine Runs OutTake It to Jesus FirstDo Whatever He Tells You to Do
2025
January
Why Me?Ordinary but ChosenYour Past Prepares You for God's FutureWhy Not Me?The Burden of PreparationIt’s Bigger Than YouJust Show UpAnchored in PrayerBreakthrough Was Always God's PlanWaiting on Your BreakthroughTransformative Power of PrayerThe Art of PrayerThe God of BreakthroughKryptoniteLifelineThe Dare of DependenceWho Needs Your Prayers?Soaring in PrayerObedience Through PrayerThe Power of Prayer in Overcoming TemptationIs Your Heart Prepared for God's Mighty Work?The Joy of SimplicityPatient in Affliction, Faithful in PrayerBurning PrayersWhile You Wait...He WorksChoosing His Will with Free WillEquipped for Victory: Overcoming Sin from WithinEverydayThe Great I AMSaying Yes to GodOrdinary People, Extraordinary God

1 Comment
I appreciated the speaker today in the chapel at my university, I will most likely never see him again, but it was God speaking through him.