God is subtle, isn’t he? He’s so quiet that some people can go through their entire lives and not notice his work at all. They attribute all their wealth and successes and fame and possessions to their own ability, initiative, and hard work. And maybe some luck and coincidence.

The indwelling of the Holy Spirit in our minds helps us begin to notice God’s cause and effect. God is engaged in our lives, and he works to make them better: “He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand. He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see and fear the Lord and put their trust in him” (Psalm 40:2,3).

The Bible calls these divine interventions “blessings.” A blessing is a gift that God gives because he loves us, not wages we’ve worked for. And notice the two important outcomes: Number one is the new song coming from our mouths. Every time we become aware of God’s work, we can send up some praise, and it’s new because it’s praise for a new thing. Number two is the impact that our words and prayers of thanks and new songs have on other people.

People who are truly grateful for blessings usually make some noise, and their friends and family who are not in God’s immediate family may decide that they want what you have—an engaged heavenly Father.