The Proclaimer

Count Your Blessings

We often sing, “Count your many blessings, name them one by one.”  But how many times are we so concerned about what we don’t have that we forget how truly blessed we are?  Paul tells the Philippians: “In nothing be anxious; but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God” (Phil. 4:6).  Sometimes it’s difficult to remember, “every good gift and perfect gift is from above” (James 1:17).  Perhaps it’s just hard to see the good in some things that are not exactly as we might want them to be. 

We need to remember to thank God for every blessing that is ours even though we may have to deal with difficulty and hardship.  Regardless of how hard life may be from time to time, we are still so blessed as God’s people.  For this reason Paul can write, “Rejoice in the Lord always.  Again I will say, rejoice!” (Phil. 4:4).  We would all do well to try to look on the bright side.  When things don’t work out exactly the way we expect, we need to remember all that God has done for us.

Paul writes, “But godliness with contentment is great gain.  For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out.  And having food and clothing, with these we shall be content” (1 Tim. 6:6-8).  Are we content with the necessities of life?  Are we content with what we have? 

Paul recognized that contentment is a learned quality.  He writes, “Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content” (Phil. 4:11).  No doubt this explains how he can write from a Roman prison, “Rejoice in the Lord always.”  Paul was thankful for what he had regardless of his circumstance.  Furthermore, he acknowledged these blessings come from God’s bountiful hand.  Because God had cared for him in the past, he had every confidence He would continue to do so in the future.  The result: “the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding” (Phil. 4:7).  

I once heard about an old country preacher of days gone by who bravely spoke one Sunday about giving and supporting the work of the church.  The congregation was a rather stingy group of people and so he diligently tried to exhort them to more liberality in their giving.  With great anticipation the old preacher finished his sermon and passed his hat to take up the collection.  When the hat had made its way to all the people and back to the preacher, he optimistically turned it over to see what would fall out.  He shook it, but nothing came out.  Finally, he said, “Let’s pray.”  He then thanked the Lord that he got his hat back!

                                                                              -- Clark Dugger

The Proclaimer