Gratitude Challenge

It has often occurred to me and people I know well have heard me state that the solution to our problems are just a blink in God's eye.  I believe that.  But I, along with many others, have asked more than once "Then why doesn't he do something about this?  If he can fix it, why does he play games with me?"  Seriously?  I do know the answers or, at least, I'm starting to learn them after all these years.
My honest belief is that it has to do not only with faith, but also with praise: -with honest forward thinking respect for the awesomeness of God and how he handles the affairs of our life.  I know how many of you will think.  You will say that your life is messed up and that your plea to God has been ignored more than once.  I've been there in the gut wrenching pain of "How can it even come out without a major disaster?" agony.  Fear, embarrassment, loss, humiliation, anger, self-pity, indignation, I've felt them all.  I can tell you honestly that introducing praise into the mix changes the odds, but more importantly it changes me.
I've been part of the '3 things a day thankful and tag 2' effort.  It could be a good idea.  There is much right with it.  First and most important, it gets our mind thinking about our blessings instead of just about our problems and it encourages others to do the same.  I've tried to consider that in my tagging.  The danger is that we will once more spout the obvious with a heavy heart and go right back to our worry and dissatisfaction to brood.  And there is also the danger of insincere reference that dishonors a great God and disrespects the very gift that we enumerate.  I don't think God is impressed with our 'chin up' fake recitation to keep a good appearance going.
I'm becoming aware that a quick answer to my celestial begging without a major change of mind and heart is really not an answer at all.  Neither can I praise God with insincerity and, by doing so, tweak the odds in my favor.  Yet I find that when I ask with honest confession of both my need and my inability and then turn my heart to praise -which in the onset may be quite insincere- that things begin to happen.  
It is possible that the answer kerplunks itself down in the middle of my need like a huge sack dropped from a heavenly helicopter and shakes my earth with power.  I've actually seen that happen.  But more often the answers come softly.  My vision is changed relating to the need, myself and the divine.  Creative solutions begin to concoct in my day to day doing.  The lessons begin to be applied to the root of the problem and true change is affected.  Fear becomes servant instead of master.  Greed is leaked away out of my heart.  I see the silliness of some of my 'imperatives'.
So bring on the 'gratitude' challenge and let it  run its course.  For many it will be a soon discarded reminder that our lives have much good if we take time to seek it out.  For some it will be a cynical aggravation that seems to support the fact that we are all self-serving, fake and reaching for public approval.  For others -very few, but some-  it will be a connection to the life changing habit of seeking to praise in weakness but honesty.
That said, day 5 of 7 leads me to be thankful for bounty and need.  
Excerpts from Philippians 4:  The Lord is near. 6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
8 Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.
11 I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. 12 I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. 13 I can do all this through him who gives me strength.
17 Not that I desire your gifts; what I desire is that more be credited to your account. 18 I have received full payment and have more than enough. I am amply supplied, now that I have received from Epaphroditus the gifts you sent. They are a fragrant offering, an acceptable sacrifice, pleasing to God. 19 And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus.