Count Your Blessings!

Count your blessingsEven during the hardest times in our lives it is important to take a step back and count the many good things that God has provided for us.James 1:17 NASB - "17 Every good thing given and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shifting shadow."There are some core things we must form strong heart commitments to in order to remain sane, stable, and spiritual during hard times. They are:God is good which means that HE is trustworthy in character.God is great which means that HE is trustworthy in being competent.God is full of grace in Messiah Jesus which means that HE is ready to forgive and have compassion on us during our worst times.God is with us in the life of grief meaning that the worst of times cannot separate us from God’s love in Christ Jesus.God is working all our grief for gain so that no one tear we have shed will not bear fruit in the long run.So it is important that when the hard times and struggles drown us in confusion and pain to step out of the pain and look for the good things that we still have.What measure of health remains?What people of encouragement are around us?What truths do we know which guide us?What “God sightings” are there that remind us that HE is with us?What has gone right in the middle of all the wrong?This is not natural. We normally will just become absorbed into the pain and panic of hard times. But if by God’s grace we can take a step back, we can experience some measure of HIS peace.Philippians 4:4-9 NASB - "4 Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice! 5 Let your gentle spirit be known to all men. The Lord is near. 6 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. 8 Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things. 9 The things you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you."May the Lord of good gifts in Christ grant you a vision of the rich love HE has for you today. Amen