Thoughts from daily Bible reading for today – September 19, 2014
Praise the Lord, my soul, and forget not all his benefits. Psalm 103:2
Sometimes it’s easier to keep a record of wrongs instead of a record of rights. Indeed, we need to think on those things we are blessed to experience and not obsess over stress. Our seeing effects our being. Our perspective can be a poison or an antidote to our pain. The eyes of faith remember what matters most. Thus we see the blessing of financial margin, not the stress of following a spending plan. We see a friend who cares, not the stress of a difficult conversation. We see God’s protection from a car accident, not the stress of delayed traffic. We are too blessed to stress.
Praise the Lord for His benefits: forgiveness of our sins, physical energy, spiritual stamina, relational fulfillment, vocational purpose, the opportunity to serve and a free country. The benefit package for followers of Jesus is ridiculously generous: abundant life, eternal life, a fruitful life and a meaningful life. Love, joy, peace, hope, humility and thankfulness are all the fruit of being filled by the Holy Spirit. Even in our suffering we are blessed to be God’s child. He chose us to glorify Himself during our difficult days. We are too blessed to stress for our Savior gives us rest.
“I will remember the deeds of the Lord; yes, I will remember your miracles of long ago” (Psalm 77:11).
Are you able to see the Lord at work around you? Perhaps you write down or dictate on your phone what you observe each day related to God’s faithfulness. A child’s hug, a senior adult’s smile, a Christ-centered church, a supportive family, a caring community or a friend’s phone call. Review your daily blessings over dinner with those you love. Recounting God’s favor brings hope and encouragement to those around you. You are too blessed to stress over the little stuff.
Furthermore, we remember and celebrate what the Lord has done over the centuries. Christian missionaries, churches, schools, orphanages, architecture, art, science, hospitals and homes built. Dictators who became disciples of Jesus. Tyrants who trusted Christ. Nations founded on biblical principles that flourished culturally and economically. God’s benefits are too many to count. Like grains of sand they blanket the beach of our being. We trust God, for we are too blessed to stress!
“Then they would put their trust in God and would not forget his deeds but would keep his commands” (Psalm 78:7).
Prayer: Heavenly Father, I praise You for Your benefits and blessings: past, present and future.
Related Readings: Deuteronomy 4:9; Job 8:12-14; Ecclesiastes 7:11; John 4:38; 2 Peter 3:8
Post/Tweet today: God’s benefits are too many to count. Like grains of sand they blanket the beach of our being. #wisdomhunters
Additional Resource: 3 minute video- Count Your Blessings: http://bit.ly/YhauPq
Our new book, The Way of Wisdom: A Journey Towards Spiritual Growth, coming October! Pre-order your copy today. Boyd’s one minute book video- http://bit.ly/1nhZ2bt
Boyd’s one minute video about the new book- http://bit.ly/1nhZ2bt
