Counting Our Blessings

Thanksgiving Day is here again! I love having a day set aside for the giving of thanks! It's something we should take time to do every day, yet to dedicate an entire day is also a special thing. When we give thanks we usually take the time to stop, reflect, and count our blessings. So why don't we take a moment to do just that as we also think about the words to this beautiful hymn.

Count Your Blessings

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

One thing that I think makes this song so lovely is that it expresses "In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you." (I Thessalonians 5:18) Each verse begins with something that doesn't seem all that great and concludes with a reason to give praise. It doesn't matter where you are in life, or what your circumstances might be, because if you know the Lord as your Saviour, there's nothing that can take that away from you. And that's worth more than the world!

So, may we give thanks to Whom it is due. ... Not just today, however, but every day and always.

Happy Thanksgiving!