Benefits Of A Thankful Heart

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. [4]

I know that some who listen will say, “You don’t know the scars I carry!” And that is true. I can never know the trials you have endured; but I know the God who has delivered you so that you bear scars and not raw wounds. Having been snatched from the jaws of the dragon, tooth marks are to be expected! God has demonstrated His mercy again and again, rescuing you and delivering me. The Lord has shown Himself faithful; and His faithful deliverance deserves our finest praise. Rejoice in Him; praise Him joyfully in the presence of your family.

Paul challenged the Corinthian saints, “What do you have that you did not receive? If then you received it, why do you boast as if you did not receive it” [1 CORINTHIANS 4:7]? Consider that vital question: What do you have that you did not receive? God gives us all that we have. James writes, “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change” [JAMES 1:17]. Your abilities, your strength, your equipping for service—all alike come from God. Thus, your heart should be filled with gratitude toward Him for His mercy.

As you gather around the Table for the Thanksgiving observance tomorrow, I urge you to take stock of all that God has done for you. Your family is His gift; give Him thanks in the presence of your family for each one. Your friends and the support you enjoy day-by-day is from His hand; tell your friends often of how grateful you are for their friendship. Let your friends know you do not take for granted the friendship you share. In fact, it is appropriate to take someone by the hand even now and tell that one how you thank God for their presence and especially how you are grateful for their friendship. Your work and even your willingness to be engaged in that work is a divine gift; don’t neglect to tell the Master of your gratitude. Set aside time to focus on the goodness of the Lord to you and to your family. Invest time in praising Him for His mercy. Indeed, count your blessing. Amen.

[1] Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are from The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. Wheaton: Standard Bible Society, 2016. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

[2] “Jesus doll brings with it hope that’s huggable, designer says,” November 30, 1992, Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel, published in The Baltimore Sun, http://articles.baltimoresun.com/1992-11-30/features/1992335209_1_discover-jesus-doll-design-mary-doll, accessed 3 June 2018

[3] “History of Independence Day,” John Adams letter to His wife, Abigail, July 3, 1776, https://www.nps.gov/subjects/nationalmall4th/history-of-independence-day.htm, accessed 3 July 2018

[4] Johnson Oatman, Jr., “Count Your Blessings” 1897

[*] A final PDF version of this message will be available after 6 October, 2018 at https://newbeginningsbaptist.ca/category/sermon-archives/.