Kristi Pennington

Discovering a new word with a meaning that makes me smile is a special treat. A book challenging me to increase my brainpower through memorizing new words presented this word to me.[i] This “word” was both new and easy – Boon. Its simple meaning – blessing.

Boon makes me smile because I know if I looked at most people and said, “You are a boon to me,” they would probably observe me strangely. The truth is, this morning three of our grandchildren ages 12, 13, 16 slept over.  I looked at each one of them and said, ”You are a boon to me.” They each furrowed their brows and eyed me oddly, wondering, “What is Mimi up to?”

I learned boon to make my brain smarter! (LOL) Why do I bring it up today? Because it means blessing, and we just finished celebrating Thanksgiving 2024.

Hopefully, we don’t wait until this holiday to express deep gratitude for our many blessings. I often write at least three things for which I’m thankful in my journal. Another way I practice gratitude is through using a Daily Examen. This practice of self-examination includes telling God in a posture of prayer the things for which I am thankful.

When prayers of gratefulness come from hearts that are connected to God, we are boasting and exalting Him.  We are acknowledging that these are gifts from Him.  This is a way of boasting and exalting God.  He is the only one who deserves to be boasted in. This One is really Three in One: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

It is a temptation to take credit for things we have successfully done and achieved in life. It’s a way of showing off or bragging. The prophet Jeremiah stated, “This is what the Lord says: ‘Let not the wise man gloat in his wisdom, or the mighty man in his might, or the rich man in his riches. Let them boast in this alone: that they truly know me and understand that I am the Lord who is just and righteous, whose love is unfailing, and that I delight in these things.’” (Jeremiah 9:24, NLB)

The right kind of boasting is not to be only done in private but in the company of other believers. “O magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt his name together.” Psalm 34:3

How will you boast in the Lord today? How can you make Him more famous to others?

Who are the “boons” you are thankful for today? Have you told them what a blessing they are to you? Make a point to do that this week.

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[i]A Brilliant Mind: Proven Ways to Increase Your Brainpower, Frank M.D. Minirth. I especially love the last chapter of the book which focuses on Scripture memory and how it renews our brains.