John Ortberg speaks of writing a thanksgiving letter to someone you're grateful for. Write it, make an appointment to see them - and then read the letter to them.
You can imagine receiving such an appointment as a little bit awkward. But it would be quite moving.
Writing the thanksgiving letter and reading it would also be quite an experience.
How about with God?
When we say grace before a meal, when we express our thanks in songs and prayers of praise at church - do we really feel the gratitude.
The art of talking to your soul...
I've been reading Soul Keeping by John Ortberg. Something that has struck me is the idea of talking to your soul. Especially this verse in Psalm 42.
It made me think of the nature of a conversation with your soul. In conversation as if I was separate from my soul. There is some wisdom in saying talk to your soul.11 Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you disquieted within me? Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my help and my God.
- Psalm 42:11
This is different to talking to yourself.
When you talk to yourself YOU feel pressure to respond. So you say to yourself: "Cheer up!" But you don't - and then you feel guilty for not listening to yourself.
When you talk to your soul you accept your sadness - and you say to your soul; as if it was separate from you - "Cheer up!" And there is no pressure for you to respond. You are talking to something deep inside you. And you are allowed to speak to yourself quite freely and honestly without feeling guilty about not cheering up - not listening to yourself.
And so the Psalmist talks to his soul: "Why are you cast down? Why are you disquieted?" And the Psalmist advises his soul: "Hope in God" Witnessing and encouraging: "I shall again praise him, my help and my God."
Try it.
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