The Simple, Good Things

He fills my life with good things! PSALM 103:5 TLB 

There are a lot of simple, good things that come from gathering around a campfire. Warmth. Light. Comfort. Fellowship. Marshmallows. Stargazing. Sitting still. Smiles. Laughter. Stories. Cool night air. The artistic flair of the flames. The more we practice noticing and appreciating the simple, good things in our lives, the more they seem to grab our attention. And that might be the best good thing of all. 

Thankfulness multiplies when we see God’s goodness in simpler things. When we appreciate the first deep breath we take in the morning, the way the light comes through the window, the sound of birds singing God’s praises at sunrise. The simple things are everywhere. They’re always around us. They might not be the things that qualify as special events or standout experiences. They probably won’t make it into the stories we retell. These are the day-to-day, moment-by-moment things we often take for granted and let escape our notice. But for our hearts and minds’ sake, they’re always worth seeing. 

If joy is our strength, then stacking the simple joys on top of one another might be a great daily endeavor. When they start to build up in our hearts and minds, they begin to spill over into a more sustained feeling of gratefulness. And gratefulness gets God’s attention. “Give thanks in all circumstances” (I Thessalonians 5:18 NIV). A continual thankfulness notes a constant trust in the One who loves us most. When we believe His love covers us and His wisdom guides us, nothing falls outside His will for our lives. And His will is working out what is best for us in every way and in every small or significant part of our day. 

Dear God, Let today be one of seeing and appreciating the simple things, so that every simple joy will build strength in me. 

This is an excerpt from The Campfire is Calling: 90 Warming Devotions for the Simple Life – a devotional now available on DaySpring.com. Shop all books, journals, and devotions from DaySpring here.