As a professional photographer, I am often hired to capture special moments or seasons of people’s lives. Frequently, while I am working to create an atmosphere of celebration, I notice that many are already looking beyond the milestone we are in the midst of documenting. I’m not even sure they intend to do it, but human nature has them already looking ahead to (and often agonizing about) the next challenge, event, or chapter of life. Instead of savoring the present and considering all it took to reach that point, it can be all dismissed before I’ve even had a chance to focus. Seemingly, my camera lens and their rear view mirror regularly compete for the same precious moments.

We have all overcome, accomplished, and achieved things to arrive where we are now, so I wonder what might happen if we took a minute before rushing on to the next thing. What if we allowed time for reflection, so that we could not only appreciate the present moment for the blessing it is, but also celebrate all that God has done and given to bring it to fruition?

A friend once gave me a birthday gift, and in the box among other things was a little wooden sign that read, “I remember when I prayed for what I have now.” Years later, I still have the sign, and I keep it prominently displayed on my dresser, just so I can see the reminder multiple times every day. And I need the reminder, because somehow life can sometimes trick me into feeling frustrated about the future instead of grateful for the present. When I see the sign and pause, I can remember countless times I cried out to God, sometimes not even knowing what to pray for (and sometimes praying for the wrong things), and yet He has always known what’s best for me. My life certainly isn’t perfect, but when I slow down and consider every blessing, it’s impossible NOT to celebrate the goodness of God.

Underscoring this same idea, I often recall a favorite scene from the movie, “War Room.” In it, we see a realtor walking through the home of a potential client, who wants to list her home for sale. As the realtor is evaluating each room and taking note of important details, she sees a multitude of frames lining the staircase. She takes a closer look and sees lists of things but can’t figure out what they are, so she finally asks the homeowner. With a smile and genuine confidence only God can give, she responded, “Those are all answered prayers.” They had been framed so she would remember His faithfulness, celebrate His kindness, and rightly glorify Him for all that He had done in her life.

We certainly don’t need to frame each blessing, but are we taking time daily, or even regularly, to acknowledge and honor His workings in our lives?

If the God-breathed scripture of the Bible informs our lives and sets an example, we can find many instances of celebration in response to God’s goodness, mercy, and saving grace.

• In Exodus 15:1-21, Moses and Miriam led the Israelites in song and dance after the Lord opened the Red Sea for their safe passage and exodus from Egypt.
• In Luke 15, Jesus tells three parables – the lost sheep, the lost coin, and the lost son. Each represents someone wandering on their own and then ultimately coming to the Lord. In all three stories, there is a great celebration and rejoicing over their repentance and salvation.
• In 2 Samuel 6:12-19, King David sets aside all royal decorum and he “danced before the Lord with all his might” when the ark of the Lord was finally brought into Jerusalem.
• In Exodus 12 and 23, God commands Israel to hold festivals that included great feasting of their best foods and unleavened breads. These were meant to commemorate what God had done for them, instructing them to gather and share stories, so future generations would know of His great works.

There are so many more examples, but for the sake of time and space, these few offer great illustrations of how people have acknowledged God’s glory and goodness in their lives. And please note, these Biblical festivals and celebrations…they were, as the saying goes, “of Biblical proportion,” meaning they were grand, large-scale, and often multiple-day parties. They didn’t keep it small. They felt the magnitude of God deserved their biggest and best efforts; they wanted their acknowledgment and remembrance to be reflective. I can only imagine their animation as they retold stories of His presence and miracles.

And while most of us may not be seeing miracles quite like the parting of the Red Sea, I wonder if we slowed down enough, would we see the multitude of miracles in our everyday lives? Would we marvel at the incredibly complex design of the human body and all it can do? Would we be astounded by the minute, colorful, and ever-changing details of nature? Would we be overwhelmed by gratitude for God’s hand on our life that brought forth family, community, resilience, growth, and joy?

What if, instead of sprinting into our future, we savored the present and celebrated the details? A nightly or weekly reflection could become a powerful act of worship, and an important reminder that, indeed, you may have once prayed for the things you have now.

Pray with me:

Lord, this is the day You have made. Help us to rejoice and be glad in it (Psalm 118:24)! Give us the discipline to slow down, the eyes to see what You have done, and the heart to glorify You for Your constant love and astounding grace. Lord, every day You give us a gift worth celebrating. Help us to remember the magnitude of Your goodness and provision and to take time to worship You for every good and perfect thing (many of which, we prayed for!). In Jesus’ name, Amen.