Weekly Devotional Thankfulness “And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful.” Colossians 3.15 While thinking of a Thanksgiving meditation, my thoughts went to a secular song I had heard in my childhood days – “Count Your Blessings (Instead of Sheep).” Written by Irving Berlin in 1954, this song was part of the original score for the well-known movie, “White Christmas.” Interestingly enough, the song most remembered from the movie was the one which bore the same name even though “Count Your Blessings (Instead of Sheep)” was nominated for an Academy Award as Best Song. It was defeated in the vote by a more frivolously themed song entitled, “Three Coins in the Fountain.” It seems in the Academy that the concept of being thankful was shoved into a back shelf in lieu of a song about money and wishes. “When Im worried and I cant sleep I count my blessings instead of sheep And I fall asleep Counting my blessings. “When my bankroll is getting small I think of when I had none at all And I fall asleep Counting my blessings. “I think about a nursery and I picture curly heads And one by one I count them as they slumber in their beds. “If youre worried and you cant sleep Just count your blessings instead of sheep And youll fall asleep Counting your blessings.” The lyrics are simple, yet poignant and the theme is not alien to biblical principle or the goodness of God. Maybe it was a spinoff from the well-known hymn, “Count Your Blessings” written by Johnson Oatman, Jr. in 1897. The chorus to his hymn follows: “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. [*And it will surprise you what the Lord hath done.]” A few days ago someone approached me suggesting that our lives, families, government, and churches were filled with bad things – problems. Wanting to know my thoughts on the matter, I agreed that there was much about which to be concerned – even much about which to be alarmed. I also suggested to him that we have a choice – we can choose to either be frazzled by the world’s condition or be fascinated by the greatness of our God. It seems Christians follow the Academy’s lead by preferring negativity over remembering blessings. When we focus on the bad, that is often all we see. When we focus on God’s blessings, we see with greater understanding that God is good – that He is faithful – and that He is in control. He is in control – even during difficult days. We should never allow the current situations of life to overwhelm us, but should be ever reminded of God’s ability to bring about good according to His perfect will. To the believer in Christ, God offers the following promise: “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.” (Romans 8.28) Am I blind to problems – temptations and trials – in my life? No! But, by the grace of God I choose to focus on the good that God is doing rather than on the difficulties that threaten. This is, by the way, a commandment from God. “In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.” (I Thessalonians 5.18) *Alternate ending
Posted on: Wed, 26 Nov 2014 01:21:59 +0000
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