count your blessings

“Less filling, tastes great,” “Have it your way,” and “We have the meats!” are some popular slogans and catchphrases. Here’s a new one: “More grateful, less grumbling.” What I mean is, “Count your blessings.”

The Lord blessed Isaac abundantly. The Lord can do this because He is blessed within Himself, “The blessed God and only sovereign, the king of kings and lord of lords.” And Isaac was rich more and more and very wealthy. He had flocks, herds, and servants, and was the subject of envy.
He didn’t deserve what the Lord had done, but it was God’s plan and purpose. That’s who He is.

In Christ, we are blessed, both physically and spiritually. We have physical blessings and must not take things for granted. Cars, boats, phones, electricity, running water and indoor plumbing, medicine and repairing broken limbs, freedom to travel, etc. are not rights or entitlements; you don’t deserve those things, they are blessings to have and use that God has provided to you. Many people in other nations don’t have these things or don’t have opportunities to have these things. Take stock of the fact that you can have these things. Count your blessings. “More grateful, less grumbling.”

Maybe you don’t have all the stuff and physical blessings. Following Christ, you may not even have a place to lay your head. But consider how He blessed you in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places. Remember that if you are His, He lavishly poured out redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of your sins and trespasses, according to the riches of His grace. In Him we have obtained an inheritance, sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory.

The blessing of God is His presence, to be with you, even in hard times. You can be blessed in times of plenty or scarcity and famine, you can sing “It is well with my soul” even in great tragedy. You can say, “I have cancer, I broke my leg, I lost my job, I’m alone,” but you are blessed. God is with you, God has not abandoned you if you are His. In no way will He cast you out.

“More grateful, less grumbling” is not easy. It’s part of fighting the good fight and walking with Christ. But count your blessings, one by one, count them daily and see what the Lord has done.