Roping Religion: Remember to say, 'Thanks'

Many of the ideas and scriptures for this article are from the devotional “God Wants You To Win!” by world champion calf roper Jeff Copenhaver.

God has given us everything to enjoy. Our instruction is to seek first His kingdom and His righteousness.

If you have ever competed, you may know both the thrill of victory and the agony of defeat, as the old television commercial proclaimed. Jeff’s devotional talked about his drawing a calf that had not been tied in the allotted time before. Rodeo legend Roy Cooper was injured just prior to Jeff’s run and Jeff had prayed for Roy. Jeff should have broken the barrier but instead it stretched exceedingly and three swings later he roped the calf and then flanked and tied the bad calf in 9.3 seconds, winning the rodeo.

Jeff believes that God intervened on his behalf because Jeff was seeking the kingdom first. I believe that our prayers and gifts to the poor get God’s attention. Sometimes He even gives us an assignment because of how we live like He did with Cornelius in Acts.

Have you ever stopped to take an inventory of the good things from God in your life? Today a friend from out of state sent my wife a video about looking at the white sheet of paper instead of just the black dot in the middle of the paper. That video got me thinking about how we are wired. My dad was an educator for almost four decades. He used to say that 99 people could tell him how good he was doing but he would think about the one person who told him how bad he was doing.

I believe a lot of us are that way. We forget about all of the good things in our lives and we concentrate on the bad things. We could have a place to live, food to eat, clothes to wear, friends and family yet if the garage door isn’t working that issue seems to consume us until we remedy it.

How many times have we wished for something better than we have all the while forgetting to be thankful for what God has provided? My grandma used to say; “You can’t have something more until you’re thankful for what you have.”

Have you thanked God recently? It is humbling to look back on our lives and see how faithful God has been to His kids. He has provided us the free gift of salvation and the Holy Spirit to indwell us. He has promised to never leave us nor forsake us. God is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine according to His power that is at work within us.

Those of you who have heard me preach at a wedding know that a man who has a sensible wife has a gift from God. Children are a gift from God. The ability to obtain wealth is also a gift from God. James tells us that all good gifts come from God.

Are we doing our best with what God has entrusted us with in order to bring Him glory? Jeff didn’t just show up at a rodeo one day and decide he wanted to be a world champion calf roper. We need to work as if we are working for the Lord and then trust that if we need a break God will provide just what we need at just the right time. When we ask God for wisdom He willingly gives it.

Are you still looking for peace? Would you like to prosper as your soul prospers? Would you like to hear “Well done” from God one day? We need to do our part and then trust that God will provide a “suddenly” when we need it. He has provided extra daylight at times, extra food, wine from water, healings, resurrection, encouragement, water to drink, rain, sunshine, seed, and many other gifts to His people. He provides us with strength and the mind of Christ. We serve a good God who wants the best for His kids.

In this competitive arena of life let’s do our best and pray for God’s favor. When He answers let’s remember to say “Thanks.” May God bless you big.

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This is the 19th in the series of Roping Religion columns by Kevin Barsotti, pastor of Ark Church in Havre.