Psalms 27:1 The Lord is my light and my salvation— whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life—of whom shall I be afraid?
Philippians 4:19 And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus.
Hebrews 12:1 Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
One sure fire way to pick yourself up and get a better attitude is to start counting your blessings. Gratitude will kick depression and anxiety right out of the door. I’ve heard it said that we cannot think about two things simultaneously. If you turn your thoughts to the blessings that you have, you will not have space to worry and feel gloomy.
God is always working in our lives to perfect us as His creation. Sometimes He is working in bright colors and sometimes in dark colors. Please refer back to my article titled Antidote for Anxiety for further discussion of the bright and dark colors God weaves through our lives. This is for our benefit and should not become the fountainhead for an onslaught of negative emotions. Patience and calm can prevail. We must count our blessings!
This is a list to get your thoughts flowing. I find that many times the Holy Spirit will help me and come alongside to remind me of the answered prayers and the infinitely abundant blessings that God the Father has rained down on me.
Circumstances may appear bleak, the rain is pouring and the wind is blowing, but we are not alone in our journey. God is always as close as our next breath. He is as close as a whispered prayer away. Take heart, little sparrow, and count your blessings. There are always many more blessings than problems. Let’s get going now, these are a few reminders of the gifts that may still be surrounding us.
- Salvation – The one thing that cannot be taken from God’s children.
- Provision – What provision is still left? We may be facing hardship, but we can be grateful for what we do have.
- Church – Do you have a church family to worship and pray with you? Our sisters and brothers can be a large part of the blessings we hold.
- Family – Do you yet have family that will be there for you? Thank God for them.
- Friends – Friends are rare indeed. Do you have friends? The Lord has blessed you with these few.
- Housing – Do you still have a roof over your head? Many do not.
- Clothing – A closet full of clothes is a sign of God’s abundance to you.
- Senses – Do you enjoy vision, hearing, sense of smell? These are not available to all. Be grateful!
- God’s Nature – Can you hear birds, or water flowing? Trees, flowers and sky are all gifts to help us feel God’s love.
- Work – Are you employed? Do you have littles ones to care for? Work provides us great refuge in times of distress. Be grateful for your work whether you think it is great or small. We should work as serving the Lord and not men. He is the one we seek to please.
Father, there are times all of us feel blue, anxious or misunderstood. Our troubles can be many, and they can feel overwhelming at times. Help us remember all the beautiful blessings that we still hold. When we think on the good and perfect gifts you have bestowed on us, it can cause our spirits to rise. We call on your Holy Spirit to be our Helper and guide us to the blessings that are ours. Hold us close through the storms, Lord, we pray. Remind us to count our blessings and not focus on what is troubling us. By exercising our faith in this way, we will be more steadfast through the trials that come our way. We know you are with us, still. Therefore, we will count our blessings and trust in You, our Mighty King.
In the always faithful, always mighty, name of Jesus,
Amen
