Thank God for Your Blessings

Do you thank God for your blessings? It seems I spend more time in prayer asking God for things rather than thanking him for what He’s done. In my self-pity, I seem to compare myself with friends and people I admire. There’s always someone who is more talented and more organized.

Every Sunday at church, I notice the beautiful floral arrangements sitting near the altar. My friend, Amy, is very talented with floral arrangements. It’s a skill I haven’t learned very well, especially when I try to keep my house plants thriving. I seem to always over-water them, and they don’t survive too long.

I should remember to be thankful. For example, I am thankful God hasn’t answered all my prayers. Earlier this week, I asked God to help me buy a special pot I’d seen advertised. When I told my neighbor, Alma, what I was doing, she smiled and said, “Don’t bother. I bought that pot, and it’s hard to clean. Everything sticks to it.” Now, I’m glad God didn’t answer my prayer, and I didn’t buy it.

There are times, I’m sure you will agree, when we’ve spoken a cross word to a friend or a loved one, or a time when our children have tried our patience. Because I had been enjoying my own good health, I forgot to visit my friend, Sarah, when she was sick. I know she would have been happy to see me.

When I enter into self-pity, I try to think of my blessings. My first blessing is my good physical and mental health. A second blessing is my Christian home and my loving family.

I know God has blessed me by letting me live here. I think of all the good things I enjoy, compared to many people in the world who are living in poverty.

God didn’t promise to grant all my wishes, but He did say He’d meet my needs. It’s time to trust God and know that He has our best welfare at heart, and He knows our future. I should have an attitude of gratitude.

It’s time to count my blessings and thank God for His goodness to me. I should say, “Thank You, God, for all You’ve done for me, and for all You’re going to do.”

I think I’ll begin right now!

After working as a teacher and counselor, award-winning author Evelyn Horan now writes books along with magazine and newspaper articles from her home in Southern California. Her writing has appeared in The Christian Journal, Indian Life and many other publications.