COUNT YOUR BLESSINGS

December 1, 2016 Count your Blessings Psalm 103. 1-22, Psalm 116.12

The Lord has been very good to us in many areas as His children. His benefits are uncountable to everyone. Every thoughtful individual in all ages have always come to conclusions that God is very good to all. Though the circumstances around us, like the economic and political challenges, may indicate contrary, yet the deeds of the Lord speaks volume of His manifold tender mercies towards us. Particularly to believers, we cannot fully quantify God’s supernatural gifts to our lives. No wonder Johnson Oatman Jr. in his song for the young people wrote: “Count your blessings name them one by one, and it will surprise you what the Lord had done”. When we think of Gods goodness upon us as individuals, families, church and as a nation, we will discover His faithfulness to us.

Counting God’s Supernatural blessings Psalm 103.1-3, Ex. 15.26, Ps. 50.15, 91.15, Ps. 35.9-10, Ps 107. 1-9, 43, 1 Chronicles 16.23-29, Ps 46. 8-9, Ps 145, 1-5, 8-10

King David was a thoughtful leader who knew that he could have achieved nothing in life without the help of the Almighty. He began to enumerate the benefits and the goodness he received from the Lord. He opened the catalogue with the blessing of pardon from sin (V.3). Sin, which  was the stumbling block against God’s blessings, was removed and all other mercies began to flow into the believer’s life such as (i) Healing from sicknesses and diseases (Ex. 15.26), (ii)Rescue from danger and destruction (Ps. 50.15, 91.15) (iii) Happiness and fulfillment in the midst of worldly worries and woes, (iv) Pleasures and satisfaction when others are in severe needs and troubles, (v) divine promises and assurance when others are in fears of hopelessness and helplessness` (Deut. 31.6,8; Ps. 3.2), (vi) Wisdom and wealth in times of famine and scarcity, (vii) Defense and deliverance in critical moments of fear and troubles (Ps. 34.4, Jonah 2.2). Believers then and now need to be thoughtful of God’s supernatural blessings – to themselves as individuals, to their families, to their churches and to their communities and nations in general. For his peace in the time of wars and commotions all around the world, and for many countless benefits, God is worthy of our praise. Praise the Lord

 Commensurate Response towards God’s blessings Ps. 116. 10-14, 16-19, Ps 63. 1-8, Exodus 15. 1-19, Ps 22.25-28

Realizing God’s great blessings to us must make us to respond positively towards Him. Particularly, those who had received God’s grace at salvation will always express their appreciation to God through their love, loyalty, lives and obedience to God. We must yield and submit our hearts and lives to Him totally as people who knew that He owes us, keeps us and sustains us. We must therefore be committed to the Almighty God in our thoughts and our actions day by day in response to all He had done for us. Here the inspired writer expressed the appropriative response we must have in our gratitude to God. God’s goodness to us must make us to (i) uphold holiness of life and character, (ii) speak of God’s goodness to everyone, (iii) pay our vows, tithes, offerings and all financial commitments to God, (iv) be engaged in the building up of the body of Christ, positively contribute to the growth of God’s kingdom, (v) evangelize others to come into God’s goodness as well, and lastly by showing reciprocal goodness to everyone. Our expressions must not just be in the mouth only. It must not be only on Sunday services; neither should it be only when we want to pray, but every time and everywhere. In our utterances, conduct and character, and in our attitude to other believers and unbelievers alike

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Celebrations, Praises and Thanksgiving for God’s bounties Psalms 103:1-5; 107:1,2,14-15; Acts 16:25-26; Hebrews 13:15; Philippians 4:6, Joshua 6.20, I Sam 2.1-8, Ps 46.1, 8-9

Praises and Thanksgiving is the only celebration we can offer to the Almighty God. We have many reasons for our thanksgiving to Him. The following are some of the reasons for which we must praise the Lord. God’s creation and redemption, Salvation – Psalm 103:3, Healing and deliverances - Psalm 103:3, Divine provision - Psalm 103:5; 36:25, Divine protection and preservation – Psalms 91:1-16, Power to lead the Christian live - 2 Corinthians 2:14, The hope of living eternally with our Savior – John 3:16, Answers to prayer – Psalms 65:1-2, Divine guidance - Psalms 73:24. Our praises could be rendered in many ways and many manners. By Singing praises to God, we are showing Him that we submit and surrender to His majesty, and that  He should continue to rule and reign in our lives and affairs. This always move God to do more for us and to bring enlargements and supernatural miracles to us in return. All through the scriptures, we discovered that everyone who appreciates God always increase with breakthroughs and divine multiplications. Hannah praised God and paid her vows, then God added more children to her in return. Paul and Silas prayed and sang praises in the prison, God opened the prison doors through an earthquake, Israel praised God with a shout and trumpets and the thick Jericho walls fell down flat. Hezekiah and the people of Judah simply praised God with thanksgiving and they received abundance of victory and supernatural defeat of their enemies. This night shall be a night of Victory through our praises and overwhelming thanksgiving to our Awesome God who keeps us, supports us and sustains us.

SONG

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 hath done.       Refrain

Count your blessings, name them one by one,
Count your blessings, see what God hath done!
Count your blessings, name them one by one,
And it will surprise you what the Lord hath done.

Are you ever burdened with a load of care?
Does the cross seem heavy you are called to bear?
Count your many blessings, every doubt will fly,
And you will keep singing as the days go by.                         Refrain

When you look at others with their lands and gold,                                    
Think that Christ has promised you His wealth untold;
Count your many blessings. Wealth can never buy
Your reward in heaven, nor your home on high.                                         Refrain

So, amid the conflict whether great or small,
Do not be disheartened, God is over all;
Count your many blessings, angels will attend,
Help and comfort give you to your journey’s end.