Power of Acknowledgement

Do you ever have days, weeks, or just times in general when you're beat up by the enemy? When you feel a little overwhelmed by all the things you do? You feel like maybe it wouldn't matter if you did it or not? Or no one cares?

I get this on occasion, challenged by the enemy. And at that moment I have a choice: believe the lie and be beaten down or rebuke the lie and choose to replace the lie with the truth.

You see, Mr. McGoo and I have an interesting and busy set up and lifestyle these days - he does school full time plus is the manager for the U of Memphis men's soccer team with typical life thrown in there, and I work full time (40 hours a week) and go to nursing school at night. Although my husband regularly works very hard to assist me in household responsibilities (he's "that guy", as UFrank would call him from the jewelry commercials)... The enemy's greatest trick with me and attempt to mess with my marriage is whispering the lie to me that I do SO much, I do everything, my husband does not see, does not care, does not do, etc, etc, etc. - anyone know what I mean by this? Hear those creeping thoughts in your head?

I repeat, at that moment I have a choice: believe the lie and be beaten down or rebuke the lie and choose to replace the lie with the truth. When I'm strong enough and on guard enough to be able to do the latter, the enemy becomes silent, but when I choose to buy into the enemy's bull... I can create a negative, miserable environment around myself.

With all this in mind (kind of back history above), I was reminded last night about the POWER OF ACKNOWLEDGMENT. The power of acknowledging the things people do and have done, whether for ourselves or those around us.

Last night I was able to experience/receive the power of acknowledgment when my handsome hubby stopped his studying to ask me to come to him. I was in the middle of cooking dinner, but he told me to head that way anyway. When I got to him, a little reluctant because "I was in the middle of something", I received a wonderful hug and words I needed to hear at that moment. He told me how thankful he was for me and for all that I do for him and our furbabies (the boys, as we call them all together). In short, he acknowledged me. He acknowledged that he saw me, that he knew what I was doing and had done, and he let me know. There is power in that! It spoke to my heart and will give me the extra ability to fight off the enemies lies next time he tries to get me to believe my husband does not see, does not care, or whatever.

As I began thinking about the act of acknowledging or thanking someone else, I came to the start of the book of Philippians. Paul begins his letter to Philippi by introducing himself, defining who he was writing to, and then by acknowledging the people at Philippi. He says, (Philippians 1:3-6) "I thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident in this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus."  What an acknowledgment, as Paul tells the people at Philippi that he sees them, thinks of them, and is thankful for them and the work they have already done! There is power in acknowledgment.

So the question is, who do you need to acknowledge today? Who do you see and can take the time to let them know by acknowledging and thanking them today for all that they do?

Now that I recognize the power of receiving such acknowledgment, I want to do better myself, working to  acknowledge and thank those around me for the work that they do. In the fast paced world in which we live, full of technology, I think we too often forget to take a moment to acknowledge one another - bless someone today by taking the extra time!