Count Your Blessings

“Count your blessings, name them one by one…see what God has done.” Words of an old hymn hardly ever sung in most churches today. But it should be. We need to be reminded to count our blessings, even if sometimes those blessings are not what the world might consider as being blessed.

Blessings in the Storm

When upon life's billows, you are tempest tossed
When you are discouraged, thinking all is lost
Count your many blessings, name them one by one
And it will surprise you what the Lord has done.

Recently in parts of the U.S. there have been numerous tornadoes, some totally destroying entire towns; homes and businesses lost, and people killed. Yet, it was not uncommon to hear many of the victims of these terrible storms say, “It could have been worse.”

Even someone who had lost a loved one when a building collapsed, had been heard to say, “They’re with Jesus, now. We’ll be okay.”

Those people were counting their blessings. They had survived, even while losing everything that they held dear, they could still say, “we’ll be okay. We’ll rebuild. As long as we’re alive we can start over.”

Blessings When Burdened

Are you ever burdened with a load of care?
Does the cross seem heavy you are called to bear?
Count your many blessings every doubt will fly
And you will be singing as the days go by.

Why should we count our blessings when we are going through a tough time? I mean, the freezer quit and you’ve got thawed steaks floating in a bath of melted ice cream; you ran out of gas on the way to work and got docked for being late; your husband lost his job; the house is being foreclosed on; and your kid is being bullied at school.

Now, you are loaded down with care! Why should you praise the Lord? Why count your blessings? Well, in the Word we are told to not to forget His benefits.

Psa 103:2 Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits

Also, when you begin to focus on what the Lord has done for you, your attitude changes. You begin to realize that things might not be as bad as you thought, and even if they are, you are not alone.

Don’t Count Others Blessings

When you look at others with their lands and gold
Think that Christ has promised you His wealth untold
Count your many blessings, money cannot buy
Your reward in heaven, nor your home on high.

Envy is NOT a pretty thing, and in fact is often mentioned in the Bible along with hate, pride, strife, murder and several other nasty emotions. Looking at what others have, whether they are sinners or have been blessed by God, does nothing for your own outlook.

There will always be someone who has more money, is better looking, has smarter kids, has a better job, or a nicer house than you have. If you focus on their blessings instead of your own, you will soon be full of discontent, and the next thing you know you are complaining to God. Not a good move.

Forget what others have and focus on your blessings. Has the Lord forgiven your sins? Do you know your final destination? Did you wake up this morning? Can you think? Does God provide for your needs? If all of those are true, then you’ve been blessed.

Someone didn’t know the Lord yesterday. They thought that death was the end. That someone didn’t wake up this morning. That someone might have been rich beyond imagination, but now the heirs will fight for every tidbit, while that someone faces an eternity in hell.

Yeah, I think you have a reason to count your blessings.

Counting Your Blessings to the End

So, amid the conflict, whether great or small
Do not be discouraged, God is over all
Count your many blessings, angels will attend
Help and comfort give you to your journey's end.

No matter what’s going on, thank the Lord for your blessings. As you bless Him for blessing you, while your circumstance might not change, your attitude will. Like sunlight breaking through the clouds after a storm passes by, everything takes on a sparkle, looking fresh and clean, even smelling better.

Count your blessings, name them one by one
Count your blessings, see what God has done
Count your blessings, name them one by one
Count your many blessings, see what God has done.

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