Look to the Lord and His strength; seek His face always. Remember the wonders He has done, His miracles, and the judgments He pronounced. 1 Chronicles 16:11-12
“Recently (although the outward condition of my life has not changed for the better) it has pleased God to pour into my soul great tranquility — I may even say gaiety. I give thanks not without apprehension as one who keeps firmly in mind that salutary observation in The Imitation of Christ “remember in grace what you would be without grace.” Would that we had attained to everlasting constancy with no shadow of turning!”
C.S. Lewis in “Letter to Don Giovanni Calabria dated 13 January 1948” in The Collected Letters of C.S. Lewis (San Francisco: HarperCollins, 2005) 41.
When we pause to “remember” in grace what we would be without grace, we receive the gift of “great tranquility.” God has done wonders and miracles for us.
Notice we can experience this transformation of perspective even when, as Lewis notes, the conditions in our lives have not changed for the better. We are still in this crazy COVID crisis.
I must admit that in choosing the word “remember” as my word for 2021, I had no idea how it would relate to generosity. Now it seems to me, already, there are infinite possibilities.
As we remember the wonders God has done for us, His miracles and matchless grace, it fills us with great tranquility and joy. Part of our generosity is sharing this peace and joy with others.
But think for a moment why remembering in grace is vital. It roots our generosity in grace. Grace reminds us that everything good that you and I have came to us from God for our enjoyment and generous sharing.
As 2021 begins, take a moment, perhaps over a cup of coffee, and remember at least five things God did for you in 2020. The exercise of reflecting with gratitude causes us to look to the Lord and seek His face for 2021.
And it fills us with great tranquility which inspires us to make 2021 a year of even richer generosity. We’ve got this, because God’s got us.