Counting Our Blessings

I have quoted Philippians 4:6-7 to myself and others innumerable times since my conversion to Christ in 1976.

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.  And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

We all have difficult life experiences resulting in anxiety and fear. But according to this passage, prayer with thanksgiving is God’s prescribed antidote. The Passion Translation puts it like this:

“Don’t be pulled in different directions or worried about a thing. Be saturated in prayer throughout each day, offering your faith-filled requests before God with overflowing gratitude. Tell him every detail of your life, then God’s wonderful peace that transcends human understanding, will make the answers known to you through Jesus Christ.”

The result of prayer with thanksgiving is a peace that transcends human understanding! Simply put, it just does not make sense. Our experiences, thoughts and emotions are pulling us in a different direction, but prayer with thanksgiving guards us from going down the whirlpool of anxiety, fear and depression.

An old hymn encourages us to count our many blessings and name them one by one. For me, once I start down that road, I begin to realize just how incredibly blessed I am.

His love, mercy, forgiveness, redemption and purpose in my life are overwhelming. I am so blessed by the amazing family God made me a part of. My parents, sister, wife, kids and grandkids are a reminder of His constant care. I have been privileged to have some of the best and closest friends who have prayed, rejoiced and cried with me for decades. God has been faithful to lead me into the most rewarding work anyone could ever want. And the people I am privileged to work with at SSI and CTV are amazing! With over 30 years in the non-profit world, I have seen God’s provision through generous and loving people over and over again! Through seasons of personal doubt and faithlessness, He has always shown Himself to be faithful.

I could go on and on, but you get the picture! He has been so good to me and yet I don’t feel deserving of His abundant grace.

I pray that in this season of Thanksgiving leading up to Christmas that we will all find ourselves daily counting our blessings and giving thanks to God. And may the peace of God which transcends all understanding guard our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus now and forever!