Count your Blessings

In the early 2000’s, a little before Thanksgiving time, I sat down and wrote out a detailed list of the blessings in my life. My salvation in Christ, my family, and God’s provisions topped the list, but I was deliberate to also include personal experiences and events that most people likely wouldn’t initially consider a blessing. Honestly they probably didn’t seem like a blessing to me at the time either. I realized, in time however, that many of my blessings and much of my spiritual growth has came from relying on God and His word during the difficult times in my life. In some cases, years after it occurred in my life, and now many of which I have included in my writings of my life story.

Romans 8:28 is still one of my favorite Bible verses:

“And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.”

Over the years I’ve learned that being a Christian doesn’t make any of us immune to life’s trials and tribulations, but more importantly I’ve learned that those trials and tribulations often have a divine purpose.

“Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing” James 1:2-4

I primarily write about my life experiences combined with one or more aspects concerning my faith in Christ. Things like the sin nature we’re all born with, our need for repentance and forgiveness, God’s amazing mercy, and the undeserved grace that He gives freely to all who turn away from sin and turn to Him in repentance and faith.

I believe that forgiveness from God, besides being the one thing we need most from Him, is often the catalyst that leads us to forgive others.

And that,

Forgiving others leads to blessings, and blessings lead to thankfulness; a thankfulness not necessarily based on the circumstance but rather in Him.

In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. 1 Thessalonians 5:18

One of the most significant things I ever realized in my own life, was that it was not until I received God’s forgiveness that I was able to genuinely forgive others. That forgiveness which I’ve extended to others has in turn blessed me in ways I would have never realized without first being forgiven by Christ.

And,

Forgiveness is like a two way street.

“Forgiveness is setting the prisoner free, only to find out that the prisoner was me.” Corrie ten Boom

I suspect people who choose not to forgive others are setting up at least two traps for themselves.

One,

Missing out on the blessing of a mutual loving relationship, and

Two,

Having a questionable relationship with God.

“Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.” Ephesians 4:12

The joy of knowing that God knows the worst of me and loves me anyway, is immeasurable. The blessing of being forgiven by Christ and the freedom of forgiving others also brings a joy to my life that is hard to describe. Words like peace, happiness, gratefulness, thankfulness, blessedness, probably come closest to describing this feeling.

So, twenty-plus years after making that list of blessings, I’m ever thankful for my salvation in Him, my family, and His provisions. His amazing grace and providence in my life has been amazing.

I’m also continually reminded that many times a blessing may not initially appear to be a blessing. It is with hope and faith in Him that we look to God for answers, and in His perfect timing, and trust Him no matter what. In the meantime, we are to have a spirit of thankfulness in all things. We’re to continually count our blessings and never forget them as Johnson Oatman, Jr reminds us in his sweet hymn:

Count your blessings,

name them one by one;

Count your blessings,

see what God hath done;

Count your blessings,

name them one by one;

Count your many blessings,

see what God hath done.

And be thankful.