|
Like pretty much everyone, I have friends who get "down in the dumps"
at times, and might feel like God isnt moving in their lives, or that they just arent being blessed in any way. Or they might
feel like THEY arent doing anything for the Lord (and usually people who feel like that, DO more for the Lord than the rest
of us) that might worthwhile, or giving Him the glory. Recently, I gave some advice to a couple of different people, and would
like to share a little of that advice here, and challenge everyone reading this, to try it for themselves.
Most Christians have heard the song, or the phrase "count your blessings",
but not very many of us actually do it. The Bible tells us that it rains on the just, and the unjust, alike (Matthew 5:45)
but there is another wonderful promise in the Bible that I think many of us miss, so here it is:
Matthew 7:8 For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh
findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.(9) Or what man is there of you, whom if his son ask bread, will he give
him a stone?(10) Or if he ask a fish, will he give him a serpent?(11) If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts
unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?
God DOES bless His people. God DOES move in the lives, minds, homes,
and hearts, of His people. I think sometimes we just cant see it, for numerous different reasons.
Sometimes God will allow His people to go through something painful
, traumatic, or confusing. When this happens, I believe God demands our attention, for a specific purpose. Ive personally
been through many of these kinds of trials, and it took many OF them, for me to begin to see my life as the cup half full,
rather than the cup half empty. No matter what is, or is not, happening in your life, there is a greater peace within your
heart, when you can see what God is really doing.
With that said, here is the hands on, practical advice:
- Go out and buy a spiral bound notebook, and across the front,
in BIG BOLD letters, write "BLESSINGS". (I dont recommend using a computer word program, its too impersonal for this exercise)
- Every day, at the end of each day, or as the day progresses,
whichever is more practical for you, list every single blessing that came your way, THAT day. Big ones, little ones, funny
ones, private ones, family ones, no matter what kind, if YOU were touched by it in any way, list it.
- Do this FAITHFULLY, every single day.
- At the end of the week, go back and read every days list, completely,
and then spend some time giving God the praise He deserves, for the things on those lists.
- Do this for 1 month, faithfully, each and every day. I guarantee
you, you will be surprised at the things God has been faithfully blessing you with, each and every day, that you never really
took the time to consider, before.
As you continue to do this, every single day, you will notice that
you NOTICE the blessings when they come, instead of having to try to remember what they were, at the end of the day. You will
find yourself, slowly but surely, becoming more and more in tune with what God is actually doing in your life, each and every
single day, and as a result of it, your praise and adoration for Him, will only deepen. If indeed you do happen to be in a
"funk" or feeling like your faith is in need of a lift, this WILL work for you, as you consider the giving nature of the Holy
God we serve. As you do notice the shower of blessings God is raining down on your life, it will bring you to a new understanding
of humility, before your Holy Father in Heaven. Youll have a brand new understanding of all the old clichés about "God is
good, all the time", and "it is well, with my soul" and so on.
I would like to share with you all, just 1 days list, of all of the
blessings God sent my way, so you can see a REAL example, for yourself. Some of your blessings might be the same as mine,
but most will be different. Feel free to try this just once, if you dont want to do it for the whole month, and share YOUR
days list, so that others might be blessed as well.
Thursday, April 26, 2001: God has brought these blessings to my life,
or my thoughts, today:
- My husband's job, that allows me to be a stay at home
mom, with six kids.
- Being able to stay home and homeschool the kids.
- The freedom I still have in this country to homeschool.
- A reliable vehicle thats big enough to comfortably carry our
whole family.
- Hearing the baby giggle and coo and clap, when he was
cranky and fussing from 3 am till 6 am.
- Reliable daughters who watch over their baby siblings so that
I can run errands or nap when Im pooped.
- Modern conveniences and technologies, such as my camera, the
dishwasher, my computer, the cordless phone, that make my life more comfortable, and more enjoyable.
- Good friends who tell me when Ive blessed them, and when Ive
messed up.
- Pre-mixed baby formula, disposable diapers and wipes!
- The sleepy eyes, and sunny little innocent faces of my toddlers,
first thing this morning.
- Cardinals, because my 2 year old loves them, and seeing
her so excited about seeing one, brings me great joy.
- Hearing her sing Amazing Grace, on key, and word for word.
- Watching my 3 year old's eyes focus correctly when she
puts her glasses on, and hearing her say each night "pray me my eyes?"
- Indoor, hotwater heaters!
- The price of gas going down a few cents.
- A gorgeous pink, yellow and purple sunrise.
- Coffee!
- Hearing WONDERFUL news that a fellow chatter and sister in
the Lord, received GOOD news from her doctor: NO CHEMO, all is clear! This might be my biggest blessing today.
- People who devote their time to help in a common goal of mine
- Naps!
- Grocery bills that are lower this week than last.
- People who pray for me, and my family, and our witness for
the Lord.
- Good friends who remind me of whats important
- Bible study in the book of Isaiah today
I would encourage anyone who has read this, to do the same lesson, and see for yourself, what
you've been overlooking.
©
Carla Rolfe 2001
Share your blessings here
BACK TO HERE WE STAND
CONTACT US HERE
| Click the Hoody to help support this site! |
|
|
