Count your Blessings

The other day I wrote that in times like this we need to "Concentrate on Prayer" and also "Controlling our Minds". Today let us consider “Count your Blessings.” These days I often hear the word “vulnerable”. Everyone seems to be vulnerable-the elderly and they have to stay in isolation. Those with chronic sickness/diseases or maintaining some sort of medical condition etc. Even the economy is very vulnerable and you can see this term applied in every section of our society during this ‘period of covid-19.’ Let me encourage us all, to turn our thinking to the blessings of God in the past years of our lives. In other words “COUNT YOUR BLESSINGS” during this time. When the Apostle Paul was in jail in Rome (by the Romans) he wrote to some churches expressing his thankfulness by counting his blessings:

Ephesians 1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ. Philippians 1:3 I thank my God upon every remembrance of you, Colossians 1:3 We give thanks to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for you,

In spite of the circumstances he was in, Paul continued to be thankful and was counting God’s blessings. There are other verses in the Bible that can give us encouragement.

In Psalm 103:

David said, Bless the LORD, O my soul; And all that is within me, bless His holy name! 2 Bless the LORD, O my soul, And forget not all His benefits:

This Covid-19 is unprecedented. There has never been anything like it. Though there were plaques and deadly epidemics in history, such as the bubonic plague that caused the Black Death, killing tens of millions in Europe Africa etc. But in my lifetime-this is my first time to experience something like this. I am just thankful for the blessings of 73 years of life and 57 years of those has been walking with Jesus. Thank you Lord Jesus for my blessed life. There were ups and downs in life, but that is normal, because we live in a fallen world. But Jesus promised us a better place according to John 14:1-4, He called it “My FATHER’S HOUSE”. This is heaven.

Another blessing we have is our families, children and grandchildren. They give us a lot of joy. Sometimes our children can cause a little bit of a pain, but that is normal too, because we live in a fallen world. We all make mistakes. But the beauty is, there is always forgiveness and love. That love is shed abroad by the Holy Spirit in our lives according to Roman 5:5. So there is balance and we can have sanity, it is a beautiful life.

Count our blessings, there are lots of things you can be grateful to God. Above all, of course, is the Gift of Salvation in Christ Jesus. It is free. It is all by grace. Sometimes we make mistakes, but our Heavenly Father will never withdraw His unfailing love and eternal salvation that He gave us as a Gift. There is no such thing as temporary salvation. It is everlasting, it is eternal. That’s it! Complete and cannot be broken. No one can take you away from the Father’s and the Son’s hands according to John 10: 25-30.

Count your blessings and maintain your sense of humour. I made a comment to my wife, “we are in isolation for 14 days, now the government says that those over 70 should continue to be in isolation. How about the marriage vow you made during your wedding day, ‘in sickness and in health till death do us part?’” This is where the law of common sense comes and can be applied, I reckon. We are also told in 2 Thessalonians 3:10 “…if anyone will not work, neither shall he eat.” I made a comment that there should be a balance between ‘social distancing’ and ‘economic necessities’. Because of this pandemic, we are redefining what is essential for our survival. Some are honestly looking for work and they are on welfare. That is ok. While others are just plain ‘lazy.’ Should they eat? Should they be provided? If they do not eat, they will die. What a funny world!

Let me close, just count your blessings and take care of your health and well-being. Everything you have-is all because of His grace. God bless. (to be continued)