Count your blessings

"...see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it."
                                                      Malachi 3:10

How many times as a kid did you hear you mom tell you to count your blessings? I know that I heard that a lot growing up. It is an important phrase, especially when raising up children. We all tend to take that one negative occurrence and magnify it in our eyes, making it totally outweigh the many good things (blessings) that occur in our lives each and every day. Keeping your focus on the blessings helps you keep in perspective the bad things. Keeping your focus on the blessings keeps you from comparing yourselves to others which will always lead to jealousy or envy.

God loves each and every one of his children equally. No one is more loved or more blessed than another. God knows what is best for us and gives us what we need on a daily basis. There is no need for comparison to others as we can be assured by His Word that He will provide everything we need.

I recently read a story about a group of sisters that upon the passing of their mother each felt it necessary to confess that they felt bad for being treated better than the other sisters. Each felt that their mom had gone out of her way to favor them. Each thought that the gifts their mom gave them were more treasured than those given the other sisters. Each felt they were more special.

This is true in most families. I am sure many moms with multiple children have heard "You like him better than me!". It is interesting how the devil works, putting these thoughts in our heads, making us believe that we are not loved as much as someone else. But rest assured, God loves all of us infinitely, not favoring one over the other, just like a parent loves all of their children. While sometimes it appears that we or another is being favored, remember that is the devil doing his work.

Pray early and pray often. Thank God for His blessings. Keep a log of all your prayer requests. Prayers of thankfulness, prayers of petition, prayers asking forgiveness, prayers of intercession. If you do this, you will see the many blessings God is putting in your life on a daily basis.

God Bless you!