Count Your Blessings

(Ephesians 4:31) "Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice:" 

(Philippians 4:8) "Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things." 

The reason why so many people have bitterness in their hearts, have hateful attitudes, are cantankerous and always miserable is due to their thought life.  There's an old adage that says "You are what you think."  There's much truth in that.  If you think yourself to be something, before too long you more than likely will be what you're thinking.  If you think yourself sad, then you'll be sad.  If you think yourself defeated, then you'll be defeated.  If you think you don't have the capacity to accomplish anything productive with your life, then you'll live a useless life.  If you think you can't work, then you'll sit on your stool-of-do-nothing and be lacking.  The reason why many Christian people live such defeated lives is simply due to what they allow their minds to dwell upon.  It's tragic.  However, if you think yourself the opposite of those things just mentioned above, then you can live a life of joy and happiness.  In Acts 26:2, the Apostle Paul thought himself happy before King Agrippa.  Why?  Paul chose to be happy.  He wasn't going to be intimidated by standing before Agrippa.  He wasn't going to allow himself to be in a state of defeat.  Happiness is a state of mind.  You will be what you think yourself to be.  I recognize you have to use common sense when it comes to what you think.  If you're disabled and in a wheelchair you have to recognize you have limitations in what you can and cannot perform.  However, a person doesn't have to think themselves defeated.  I recognize that's easier said than done many times. 

I know in my own life many of the attitudes I've experienced is simply due to what I've allowed my mind to dwell upon.  There have been times I've had desires for God to grant a request in my life and it didn't work out like I thought it should've.  I would ponder and rationalize the situation in my mind and I would think that something should've been worked out.  In other words, things didn't have to go the direction that they did, according to my way of thinking.  However, that can be foolish thinking.  Dwelling over the past isn't going to help you.  It is wise to reflect upon the past from time to time so we can learn from our mistakes.  However, crying over spilled milk is a waste of time.  Instead of dwelling on failed opportunities, we should mediate upon Philippians 4:8.  There are so many things that we can muse upon that's good and wholesome.  Proverbs 17:22 says that a merry heart doeth good like a medicine.  The way to have a merry heart is to think upon those things that are good, lovely, of virtue, and of good report.  What we ponder in our minds will affect our heart.  Your heart is affected by what you allow your minds to think upon.  We need to remember that what we're thinking will eventually have an impact upon our hearts.  If we want to guard our heart, then we need to watch what we feast our minds upon.

There's an old hymn entitled "Count Your Blessings" that rings true.  There's nothing more greater than to seriously recall and contemplate all the blessings God has bestowed upon us.  If we will recognize how unworthy we are and how good God is to us, then it should overwhelm us how much God has blessed us.  I can only answer for myself.  If I were to take the time to contemplate all the blessings in my life, it would take days upon days upon days on end and I probably still wouldn't scratch the surface.  Anytime we're in a foul mood we need to stop and remember how God has blessed us.  We need to remember the people God's used to bless us.  It's astounding to think about it.  What's so astounding about God's blessings is that He blesses us in spite of us.  God's good to me and I don't deserve it.  Financial Peace counselor Dave Ramsey has it right when he says, "better than I deserve."  I can say the same for myself.  God's good to us.  He's blessed us abundantly and in so many ways.  Anytime you're in a foul mood or you're mad at the world it would be wise to take time to contemplate and add up all the blessings God has blessed you with.  It would revolutionize our lives if we take that hymn to heart.  If we would count our blessings and realize how blessed we are, it would change our perspective about life.  We would have a joyful countenance.  When you're down in the doldrums, just remember how good God is and count your blessings.