Count Your Blessings
Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth.
Colossians 3:2
Count your blessings....A saying that politely suggests we should stop complaining and be happy. But, is it truly that simple? Could counting our blessings really relieve stress, create an environment of praise in our homes, and keep us focused on Jesus instead of the troubles that surround us? What would our days look like if we traded every negative situation for the positive one? There is always something that we can praise the Lord about. There is always something that we can fix our eyes on. The choice is left up to us daily to choose praise over complaining, to choose joy over grief, and to choose life over death. It's so easy to see and focus on the things that aren't going right in life. It's so easy to stay distracted by the pain, frustrations, and the unknown. But, counting your blessings is possible! Your life will completely change if you choose to praise God for the blessings in your life every day. Your mood will change. Your stress levels will change. Your relationships will change. Your faith will change. Your situation may never change, but your view point will! You may think it is impossible to feel joy in whatever you are going through today. Start small. Choose to see the blessings in your life. Spend five minutes writing down the things in your life that you are thankful for. Do a heart check. You will find you have a lot more to be thankful for than you thought you did. Focus on God's goodness in your life and watch as the daily struggles get smaller and smaller each day. Life can be hard. Choosing to count your blessings can be harder. Yet, there is so much freedom through being thankful. There is so much joy released in our hearts when we give praise. If you feel stuck, tired, overwhelmed, or sad today take a few minutes to praise Jesus. Your life will never be the same. We pray that you would experience the freedom that lies within counting your blessings. May your heart be glad as you hand over your struggles and focus on the blessings this week.