Count Your Blessings

By Michael Youssef, Ph D.  07/09/21

As Christians, there are days when we don’t feel that we are particularly blessed. But we are—and more so than we could ever imagine! In the Gospel of John, we read, “Out of his fullness we have all received grace in place of grace already given” (1:16). However, the problem for many Christians is that we find it a lot easier to count our troubles than our blessings.

Perhaps we could learn a little something about focusing on our blessings from Peter. In 1 Peter, he writes,

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade. . . . In all this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. (1 Peter 1:3-4, 6).

Wherever we are and whatever we are facing—even “grief in all kinds of trials”—we can rejoice because of our blessings and, hence, be a blessing to others.

Where has God placed you? Whatever your circumstance, it is a divine appointment. God has placed you in your situation and in the lives of others so that you can be a blessing.

So instead of striving to bolt from your situation, ask, “God, how can I be a blessing in my situation? How can I be a blessing in my workplace? How can I be a blessing to my neighbors? How can I be a blessing to my spouse and to my family?”

If we are truly counting our blessings, then we will be spiritually alert. We will live holy lives, and we will be obedient to God.

Prayer: Father, forgive me for the times I count my troubles instead of my blessings. Help me to be a blessing to You and to others as I count my blessings in every situation. I pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.

“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ” (Ephesians 1:3).