Counting

Always be joyful.  Never stop praying.  Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.  1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

I grew up watching Sesame Street.  One of the characters that seemed a bit silly to me was Count von Count, who is simply known as ‘The Count.’  For those who do not know the show, this was a vampire who was obsessed with counting things, and once he got to the end of it, he would have this sinister laugh as the thunder cackled in the background.  It has literally been years since I have seen the character, but I can still hear him in my head saying, “One.  Two.  Three.  Four.  Five.  Five sheep!  Ah, ah, ah, ah, ah!!!!”  So, in honor of my dear childhood friend, The Count, I want to talk about an idea that should be universally understood because this requires more introspection and reflecting on.  That idea is counting our blessings.

We of course should count our blessings.  Most people understand that and if you are like me, they might take that a bit for granted.  However, this might be the simplest way to have a true understanding of what a journey with God is all about.  For example, I woke up today in a house where we can easily withstand a bunch of grandchildren, two young adults, and my wife and me. We have food, clothing, shelter, transportation, safety, and a list of other things that we can be thankful for.  Plus, we are employed in good jobs.  Now some of you might think that is stuff that we earned, worked for, or even deserve.  Here is the truth.  There are plenty of people who earned, worked for, and deserve all those things, and yet, have none of them.  Some of them in my opinion may be even more worthy of those things than I am.  When I put it in that perspective, it just humbles me because I have not deserved this.  That is why I am thankful to God for everything I have, and there is no faster way to realize just how good He has been to me than to take a minute each day to count and remember all the things He has blessed me with.

Taking time to count the things God has done for us deepens are understanding of just how wonderful God is.  One of the chapters of the Bible that has continually grown on me is the last chapter of 1 Thessalonians.  Paul is both educational and inspirational.  He keeps hitting with quick tidbits of truth along with encouragement.  It feels like the end of a great sermon.  Today’s verses are about some fundamental parts of being a follower of Christ.  First, it is having joy, which is the feeling of positive contentment and not just happiness for the moment. Second, it is to be prayerful whether in good times or bad.  Finally, it is to be thankful in all circumstances.  This is where we get into the ‘blessings’ part of our program.  No one understands everything we are going through.  My wife and I are closer to each other than anyone else, but even we must at times anticipate the other because the other cannot explain or express what is going on.  Jesus Christ truly understands everything because He is all knowing, but here is the thing.  We are not Him, and thus, we do not know.  We are inundated with things that are a part of life in this world.  It is impossible to focus on Christ 24/7.  What we can do is find ways to ensure we understand His impact on our lives, and there is no better way than to remind yourself daily what God has done.  This is how we remain thankful in all circumstances.

A thankful heart always puts God in the forefront.  It pushes less focus on our own individual situation and more on what we have not only gotten but also can hope for in the future.  God’s provisions have always been enough.  Thus, whether we get what we wanted or are struggling through what we did not, we have full confidence that it will be alright because God’s blessings are overwhelming for John the Baptist, speaking of Jesus, said, “This is the one I was talking about when I said, ‘Someone is coming after me who is far greater than I am, for he existed long before me.’ From his abundance we have all received one gracious blessing after another.  For the law was given through Moses, but God’s unfailing love and faithfulness came through Jesus Christ.” (John 1:15b-17) Let us humbly rejoice in this abundance knowing we have been given so much even when it was neither earned nor deserved.  What blessings can help you reconnect with God today?  How often have you reflected on what He has given you?  My prayer is that we are truly thankful in all circumstances and do a better job of counting.  Ah, ah, ah, Amen.  😊