If you’re tempted to feel sorry for yourself today, take a minute to list some of the things you have that you don’t deserve. Do you have a spouse? Children? Other family? Friends? A home? Your health? A job that pays the bills? Meaningful challenges? A car (or two)? Do you know God–or, better yet, does He know you?
Now think about those less fortunate than you. The poor, the sick, the lost, the lonely. Are you any better than they?
Now think about the absolute miracle that you are here, amid the limitless stellar void, on a small, blue planet with all the conditions tuned just right for life, at a time in history when all your needs and most of your wants can be fulfilled, when you have more choices than the ancient kings.
Instead of self-pity, choose to put on gratefulness today.
About Stan Guthrie
Stan Guthrie is an editor at large for Christianity Today magazine and for the Chuck Colson Center for Christian Worldview. His latest book is God's Story in 66 Verses. He also is author of All that Jesus Asks: How His Questions Can Teach and Transform Us, Missions in the Third Millennium: 21 Key Trends for the 21st Century, and A Concise Guide to Bible Prophecy. He is co-author of The Sacrament of Evangelism. Besides authoring, writing, and editing books, Stan is a literary agent, bringing together good authors, good books, and good publishers.
Stan writes the monthly Priorities colum for BreakPoint.org. He has appeared on National Public Radio's Tell Me More, WGN's Milt Rosenberg program, and many Christian shows, including The Eric Metaxas Show and Moody Radio's New Day Florida. A licensed minister and an inspirational speaker, he served as moderator for the Christian Book Expo panel discussion, Does the God of Christianity Exist, and What Difference Does It Make?
