It's Good To Be On The Safe Side

How often do we count our blessings? If it has been a while, here are a few that we may be able to start with – home, family, friends, food, health, sunshine and the beauty of nature.

Saying ‘thank you’ used to be a habit we learnt in childhood. It’s sad that so often these days grumbling and complaining have replaced gratitude. Ultimately, our attitude begins and ends with us. We are the only ones who can put it right.

Some of the Psalms, and other parts of the Bible, are used to bring comfort, especially on life’s sad occasions. But there are also many joyful passages that celebrate the goodness of our faithful Creator God.

Psalm 100, for example, tells us: ‘Make a joyful shout to the Lord … Serve the Lord with gladness; come before his presence with singing. Know that the Lord, he is God; it is he who has made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people and the sheep of his pasture’ (Psalm 100:1–3 New King James Version). Or, as a modern paraphrase suggests: ‘Bring a gift of laughter, sing yourselves into his presence’ (The Message).

Whatever impression the news headlines may give, life is not all doom and gloom. There are still good things happening, even if we don’t always get to hear about them. There are still millions of people doing good things worth celebrating and thanking God for.

Why should we praise God? ‘For the Lord is good; his mercy is everlasting, and his truth endures to all generations’ (100:5 NKSV).

Living a day at a time can help us to cultivate the practice of counting our blessings. In the words of another Psalm: ‘This is the day the Lord has made; we will rejoice and be glad in it’ (Psalm 118:24). That means committing whatever is in the diary for that day to God – whether work, holiday, problems or difficult choices – and asking for his help. And even more importantly, thanking him when he gives it.

UK & Ireland War Cry 26 July 2014