Count Your Blessings

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ” Ephesians chapter one and verse three. Where do we spend most of our time, in counting our blessings or our problems? If you are like I am, you probably spend far too much time things about the problems of life rather than the divine blessing that has flown so freely from our father. Do we really realize that every good gift and perfect gift is from God James chapter one and verse seventeen? Do we really trust to the point of knowing that God will cause all things to work together for the good of them that love God and called according to his purpose? (Romans 8:28)

There is a song in our song books entitled “Count Your Blessings.” The lyrics are as follows:

“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 hath done.

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.

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.

Count your blessings, name them one by one; count your blessings, see what God hath done.”

I realize that sometimes it is much easier to sing it than to apply it. It does however teach a very vital truth. That truth is that our faith in God should be so great and our roots so firm that when hardships do come, we begin to count our blessing which will help our attitudes in facing our problems.

There are many physical blessings from God that we far too frequently take for granted. There is the sunshine and the rain (Matthew 5:45). He has blessed us with our families (Psalms 127:3). How wonderful to be blessed with a family that loves us, helps us and cares for us through good times and bad. He has blessed us with prosperity and health (3 John 2, 3). In view of many if not most countries, we that live in this great country which has been greatly blessed by our heavenly father, live a life of luxury. We have nice homes, plenty to eat, cars to drive, we have for the most part everything we need. If we have or even continue to enjoy decent health we are blessed of God. It is encouraging to hear someone who may be very sick say “I am good compared to some others”, or “The Lord is richly blessing me.” It shows such a wonderful attitude even in the midst of their own difficulties. God has also blessed us with a beautiful world (Psalms 19:1-3). The world in which we live is such a beautiful place with mysteries that the mind cannot fathom.

What about the spiritual blessings of which the text speaks. Time and space will not permit the listing of all of them, so simply allow me to mention a few.

One of the spiritual blessing is our being called the sons of God (1 John 3:1). “Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not.” What a tremendous thought to consider the love and cost to grant us the privilege of be called the sons of God.

Another spiritual blessing is the forgiveness of our sin. When one really realizes where he was prior to his salvation it should humble the person. We were dead in our trespasses and sin (Ephesians 2:1-3). We were without God, Christ and hope (Ephesians 2:12). We were facing the wrath of the God of this universe (Romans 1:18). As Christians we have been forgiven by the blood of Christ and privileged to be called the sons of God.

Another spiritual blessing is the fact we are a part of God’s family (the church). A loving, caring people as a whole. A people who belong to God and who share a common faith, serve a common savior, have a common mission and looking for a common destiny. Paul said to the Ephesians “Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God;” (Ephesians 2:19).

Another spiritual blessing is our eternal home. A house not made with hands eternal in the heavens, (2 Corinthians 5:1). It is called an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled reserved in heaven for us (1 Peter 1:3-5). A place that Jesus has gone to prepare for us and will return to take us home, (John 14:1-3).

Blessings like these should help us keep our chins up, our faith strong, our lives pure, our minds focused and our eyes firmly fixed on Jesus. May the Lord help us to spend more of our time counting our blessings rather than our problems.

Bill Cantrell