October, 2022 Newsletter
Topic: COUNT YOUR BLESSINGS.
Text: Psalm 103:1-5
1. Praise the Lord, my soul; all my inmost being, praise his holy name.
2. Praise the Lord, my soul, and forget not all his benefits,
3. who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases,
4. who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion,
5. who satisfies your desires with good things, so that your youth is renewed like the eagles?
INTRODUCTION
Comparing yourself with others is a distraction and a thief of your growth. As a result, you may find yourself stuck in a rut or you may find yourself retrogressing rather than progressing.
It can also shift your focus away from what God has done for you: His goodness, gifts, grace, mercies, capabilities, abilities, and blessings.
Comparing yourself with others could be as a result of covetousness; not being satisfied with what God has given to you. This leads to inferiority complex.
Comparison will keep you from planning and organizing your life, and you will always see yourself as a failure, not a winner.
Since people cannot find reasons to praise God for their lives, they have allowed comparison to steal their joy and happiness.
As a unique person with colorful glory, you have greater potential than the other person you are looking at, because you are wired differently.
The background scripture states in Verse 2: “Do not forget His benefits.”
In this writing, we will highlight some points that will encourage you to count your blessings, and not compare them.
• BE THANKFUL
• BE JOYFUL
• DON’T BE AN INGRATE
1) Be Thankful
The key to being thankful is to develop a serious attitude of gratitude.
Thankful people do not wait for anyone to force them to appreciate God’s goodness in their lives. By being thankful, you will perceive yourself as an important person and a blessing to others.
Psalm 103:1 says, “Praise the Lord, my soul; all my inmost being, praise his holy name.” This passage describes how to cultivate a thankful heart.
You can practice a grateful heart without anyone forcing you to do so, and it will also protect you from comparison.
What has God done for your friends or neighbor that He has not done or cannot do for you?
Consider the love He has for you; the provision He has made; the safety He provides; the grace He has given you. Count them and name them one by one…
2) Be Joyful
Joy comes from expressing gratitude in your heart.
Singing praise songs to God, dancing, waving, jumping, or screaming can all be used to express gratitude.
Psalm 100:1 says, “Make a joyful noise unto the Lord, all ye lands.” (NIV).
Joyful people have no dull moments around them. It shows in their facial expressions and attitude.
An individual who is joyful will find it difficult to be captured by comparison, since he would be a center of attraction.
Those who are joyful display the glory of God at every opportunity which is a painful aspect to Satan, because he does not want your life to reflect the glory of God.
In corporate and even private worship, many people struggle to open their mouths or to dance in praise of God.
Psalms 110:4 says, “Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, and His courts with praise: be thankful unto Him, and bless His name.”
God requires that you be joyful in His presence for your worship to be acceptable. You need to offer it to the Lord as a required sacrifice.
3) Don’t Be An Ingrate
To be an ingrate means you are not thankful and have no attitude of gratitude to the goodness of God in your life.
An ingrate is a complainer and a covetous person. When comparing blessings, he or she never counts God’s blessings.
People who are ingrate have myopic views of what God has in store for them.
Flow your thoughts with this passage of scripture if you don’t want to be an integrate; Psalm103: 4, “who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion,
5. who satisfies your desires with good things, so that your youth is renewed like the eagles?”
What has God not done for you in those things listed above? It is God who has arranged your language, color, race, your current location, job, and career for a purpose, so you need to have a heart of gratitude.
Don’t be an ingrate.
Conclusion
Though things may seem difficult and cloudy to you, but whenever you face a difficulty, you can choose to view it as joy, rather than seeing it as a hardship.
The fact that God allows us to face trials gives us hope that He can use it to our advantage.
You can only overcome challenges arranged by Santan by relying on Jesus. It is important that you give your life to Jesus Christ so that you can keep your focus right, because He loves you and is ready to give you eternal life.
Are you going to accept His invitation today? You won’t regret it. It’s well with you.
Prayers:
Sing this Hymn and open your heart of gratitude to thank God.
COUNT YOUR BLESSINGS…
1. When upon life’s billows you are tempest-tossed,
When you are discouraged, thinking all is lost,
Count your many blessings; name them one by one,
And it will surprise you what the Lord has done.
[Chorus]
1. Count your blessings;
Name them one by one.
Count your blessings;
See what God hath done.
Count your blessings;
Name them one by one.
Count your many blessings;
See what God hath done.
2. Are you ever burdened with a load of care?
Does the cross seem heavy you are called to bear?
Count your many blessings; ev’ry doubt will fly,
And you will be singing as the days go by.
3. When you look at others with their lands and gold,
Think that Christ has promised you his wealth untold.
Count your many blessings; money cannot buy,
Your reward in heaven nor your home on high.
4. So amid the conflict, whether great or small,
Do not be discouraged; God is overall.
Count your many blessings; angels will attend,
Help and comfort give you to your journey’s end.
You are next in line for a miracle. Amen.
John Aderogba.