Sunday Devo - November 17, 2024

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.

The stanza above is the first verse of the beloved hymn, Count Your Blessings. I felt like
it was appropriate as we head towards the Thanksgiving weekend, to touch on being thankful. I have heard it said, and would not disagree, that it is difficult to be unhappy when we are feeling thankful. In fact, I think it may be an antidote to many things; perhaps feeling depressed, sorry for ourselves, envious of someone else, feeling like we were passed up for an opportunity that we may have felt deserving of, etc.
It is easy to get discouraged in life, and to focus on the negative. If we find ourselves in that predicament, I would challenge us to reflect on this hymn, and see if we can shift our heart and our mindset to one of an “attitude of gratitude”! If we reflect on God’s blessings in our lives, we may experience a change of mood- one that can bring a smile to our face and a spring in our step.
Related Bible verse 1 Thessalonians 5: 16-18 states: “Rejoice always. Pray without ceasing. In everything give thanks, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you”. Let’s remind ourselves and one another, about the power of thankfulness- not only at Thanksgiving, but throughout the year.

-Roy