We could dub November as the Blessings Month. With Thanksgiving right around the corner, it’s a great time to commemorate all the good things in our lives.
Contrary to what some people say, I’m seeing a lot more expressions of gratitude these days. I love the way several of my friends have used Facebook to share every day during the month of November what they are thankful for. It’s a modern upgrade of counting your blessings.
Many tell how they are thankful for the physical blessings of family, good health, friends, marriage partners, understanding supervisors and food to put on the table. Several share how they are thankful for their church family, their faith in Christ, and the grace and salvation Christ offers.
This year, as you start to count your blessings, can I suggest something different? Let’s go deeper with our gratitude. Let’s get specific.
Consider this verse from Psalms 66:16:
“Come and hear, all you who fear God; let me tell you what he has done for me.”
How about this from Psalm 78:4?
“We will not hide them from their descendants; we will tell the next generation the praiseworthy deeds of the Lord, his power, and the wonders he has done.”
One more, this time from Psalm 126:3:
“The Lord has done great things for us, and we are filled with joy.”
Do you see the repeating refrain? What God has done for me (or us)?
It’s public.
It’s specific.
It’s active.
It’s personal.
What has God done for you this year?
Can you name specific ways you have seen God in action? Big ways? Everyday kind of ways?
Let’s look beyond the earthly to the spiritual realm. What has God done to help you know Him better? When has He given you wisdom in making a snap decision? How has he rescued you from evil, kept you from temptation, or disciplined you when you needed redirection? Has he filled your mouth with the right words of wisdom, discretion, or kindness? Has he nudged you to do an act of service or random act of kindness that only later you found had His time-stamp smeared all over the event?
Are you having difficulty remembering?
Here’s my challenge
Every morning, during the month of November, start your morning with this prayer. “Lord, show me what You are doing in my life. Give me something to proclaim – this is what God has done.” Then, in the evening, write it down. Put it on your Facebook status. Share it with a friend or family member. Journal it. Or share it in the comments section of this blog. If you don’t record it, you’ll forget. The more you remember, the more your month and the more your mouth will be filled with thanksgiving.
Every day, keep looking for those God-sightings. Look at what God is doing in your life, the life of your church, the life of this nation.
I’m hoping we come up with twelve bushel baskets full of God’s over-abundant blessings. I’m hoping we can sing together:
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