InstaEncouragements Building a worldwide online community of encouragers encouraging others in the faith of Jesus Christ. Join the movement!
  • Home
    • About
    • Contact
    • Etsy Shop
    • Library >
      • Bible Emergency Numbers
      • LOVE Coupons
      • Christmas Songbook
      • Character Trait Worksheet
      • The Red Sea Rules
      • The Heart That Heals Printable Package
      • 12 Letters I Wrote
      • 16 Names of God
      • Praying Proverbs
      • Come and Gather
      • Bible Reading Plan
      • Disciple Me Program
    • Christianity
    • Bible Study >
      • 14 Things God’s Love Letter Says About You
      • A Journey of Worship
      • The ABCs of God's Love Letter
      • She Loves Truth
      • Hey Mama! PRAY
      • 52 Days in Psalms
      • 10 Weeks in the New Testament
      • 2 Months in The Pentateuch
      • 12 Minor Prophets
      • 3 Biblical Statements
      • 7 Books of Faith
      • 4 Major Prophets
  • Blog
    • Guest Bloggers
    • IE Link-up
    • Praying Proverbs
    • Jordan River Rules
    • Choosing Gratitude
    • Aging With Grace
    • Seeking Him
    • She Loves Truth
    • Red Sea Rules
  • Come & Dwell
  • The Heart That Heals
    • The Heart That Heals Media Package
  • Sweeter Than Honey
    • Sweeter Than Honey Media Package
  • 16 Names of God
    • 16 Names of God Media Package
TDGC shop the sale

Remembering to Count Your Blessings

4/15/2022

0 Comments

 
How can my foolish heart turn a month of #blessings into a #complaining spirit? The answer is quite simple. Dissatisfaction comes naturally. #Gratitude is learned. #Scripture is filled with calls to #praise #God with a #thankful heart, probably because God knows our propensity to selfishly cling to our #complaints like they’re a good thing. We like to have a few good things to #complain about. However, #praising God for His blessings makes us and others focus on His goodness. #blessed #bless
The sound of “Count Your Blessings” instantly transports me back in time. I grew up singing this beloved hymn, but sometimes, in the nostalgia of the melody, I forget the powerful truth of the words. This past month has been so full and packed with good things:
  • My Mom received clear pet scans and biopsies and was told, to the disbelief and astonishment of her doctors, that she is in remission after taking only half of the prescribed chemo treatments.
  • My husband and I escaped for a weekend babymoon, a time for just the two of us.
  • My church friends and family gave baby Lucy and me the most beautiful shower, supplying many needed baby items.
  • My parents were able to visit for nearly a week. We enjoyed time together and celebrated Mom’s improving health and our upcoming addition to the family.
TDGC logo
TDGC shop the sale banner
Individually, these things are all amazing, and I’ve cried many tears of joy this month. However, in the midst of all these wonderful things happening during the busyness of everyday life and baby planning, I found myself growing more and more tired instead of more and more thankful. It occurred to me that, instead of overflowing with praise to my Awesome God for His overabundant blessings, I was quick to complain about exhaustion and pregnancy woes.
How is it that when my cup runs over with trials, I never fail to notice and pray to God for relief, but when my cup runs over with blessings, I often lose sight of my good Father?

If I really stop to think about my life right now, I am thankful for:
  • my pregnancy.
  • time with my husband.
  • time with my friends and family.
  • my Mom’s improving health.
However, despite the blessings, what comes out of my mouth is quite often a complaint about:
  • pregnancy symptoms.
  • not having time to relax.
  • being too busy and tired.
  • being emotionally overwhelmed by all the good things.
How can my foolish heart turn a month of blessings into a complaining spirit? The answer is quite simple. Dissatisfaction comes naturally. Gratitude is learned.
 
Scripture is filled with calls to praise God with a thankful heart, probably because God knows our propensity to selfishly cling to our complaints like they’re a good thing. We like to have a few good things to complain about. Our complaints evoke sympathy, camaraderie, and even respect from others while praising God for His blessings makes us and others focus on His goodness instead of our goodness.
 
The next time I feel the urge to complain, I want that thought to instantly come to my mind. Do I want to draw attention to myself or to my God? We are called to be thankful and draw the attention of others to God by praising Him for the good things rather than complaining about the things we don’t like and cannot control.
  • Colossians 3:15-17 challenges believers to “Let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which ye also are called in one body; and be ye thankful. Let the Word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by Him."
    ​
  • Psalms 106:1 tells us to “Praise ye the Lord. O give thanks unto the Lord; for He is good; for His mercy endureth forever.”

  • Psalm 100:4-5 says we should “Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, and into His courts with praise: be thankful unto Him, and bless His name. For the Lord is good; His mercy endureth to all generations.”
Obviously, God wants us to focus on His goodness and not on the bad things in our world. There is always something to praise God for—a good side to every bad penny. We just have to consciously see it and thank God for it.
  • When I want to complain about pregnancy struggles, I can instead thank God for the miracle of life He is growing inside me.
  • When I want to complain about tiredness and busyness, I can instead thank God for giving me friends, family, and responsibilities that make my life worth living.
At the end of the day, instead of dwelling on the negative side of circumstances that can overwhelm me, I can begin counting all of the good things God is doing in my life—each and every one of my blessings. Just like the song says...
Count Your Blessings
Johnson Oatman

When upon life’s billows you are tempest-tossed,
When you are discouraged, thinking all is lost,
Count your many blessings, name them one by one,
And it will surprise you what the Lord hath done.
 
Are you ever burdened with a load of care?
Does the cross seem heavy you are called to bear?
Count your many blessings, ev’ry doubt will fly,
And you will be singing as the days go by.
 
When you look at others with their lands and gold,
Think that Christ has promised you His wealth untold;
Count your many blessings, money cannot buy
Your reward in Heaven, nor your home on high.
 
So, amid the conflict whether great or small,
Do not be discouraged, God is over all;
Count your many blessings, angels will attend,
Help and comfort give you to your journey’s end.
 
—Refrain--
Count your blessings, name them one by one;
Count your blessings, see what God hath done;
Count your blessings, name them one by one;
Count your many blessings, see what God hath done.
Cami
What blessings are you counting today, friend?
Please Share
0 Comments

Your comment will be posted after it is approved.


Leave a Reply.

    Patsy
    Hi friend, welcome to InstaEncouragements. I am so glad you are here. You’re among friends. You belong here. 

    How would you like access to our online library of helpful eBooks, devotionals, printables, and more? You’re going to love this library, which has all kinds of exclusive content just for you!

    Join the movement by signing up below and I'll send you the link today. And no worries, We don’t spam. Promise! We don’t like spam either.

    After you've joined the movement, hop on over to our about page to learn more about us and then to our contact form and introduce yourself so we can be on a first-name basis. I'd like that! —Patsy

    Join the movement!

    * indicates required
    Come & Dwell
    16 Names of God
    Sweeter Than Honey
    The Heart That Heals cover

    Top Posts

    8 Ways God Spoke to People in the Past and How He Speaks to Us Today
    16 Names of God & What They Mean
    12 Things the Bible Says God Knows About Us
    From a Proverbs 31 Woman to a Titus 2 Woman
    A Lesson From King Jehoshaphat
    16 Names of God:
    ​El Shaddai
    David's Second Goliath
    3 Practical Points
    ​About Prayer
    5 Characteristics
    ​of God's Love
    12 Favorite
    ​Bible Study Tools
    Honoring God by Maintaining Our
    ​Physical Health
    Artza blog banner

    Featured

    Welcome Heart
    LaurenSparks.net
    beLydia.org
    Brave Women Series
    Grace & Truth
    WORTHY Bible Studies
    Money Wise Steward
    Woman of Noble Character
    The Best Bible Study Books For Women

    Categories

    All
    16 Names Of God
    7 Biblical Feasts
    7 Things God Is Not
    ABCs Of The Bible
    Amanda
    Bible Emergency Numbers
    Bible Study
    Books We Love
    Cami
    Cancer
    Christine
    Come And Gather
    Debbie
    Elisabeth
    Evidences Of Faith
    Family Life
    Guest Post
    Journey To The Cross
    Julie
    Kathy
    Link Ups
    Link-ups
    Our Words Matter
    Prayer
    Printables
    Stephanie
    Summer Book Club
    Sweeter Than Honey

    Archives

    May 2025
    April 2025
    March 2025
    February 2025
    January 2025
    December 2024
    November 2024
    October 2024
    September 2024
    August 2024
    July 2024
    June 2024
    May 2024
    April 2024
    March 2024
    February 2024
    January 2024
    December 2023
    November 2023
    October 2023
    September 2023
    August 2023
    July 2023
    June 2023
    May 2023
    April 2023
    March 2023
    February 2023
    January 2023
    December 2022
    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018

InstaEncouragements participates in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a
​means for this site to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites. 
This site also contains affiliate links for The Daily Grace Company, Not Consumed, and Artza.
InstaEncouragements will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking one of these links or a link from one of our posts.
​​Privacy Policy | Disclaimer | Terms & Conditions
InstaEncouragements logo
© InstaEncouragements |2025|  all rights reserved
IE blog footer image
  • Home
    • About
    • Contact
    • Etsy Shop
    • Library >
      • Bible Emergency Numbers
      • LOVE Coupons
      • Christmas Songbook
      • Character Trait Worksheet
      • The Red Sea Rules
      • The Heart That Heals Printable Package
      • 12 Letters I Wrote
      • 16 Names of God
      • Praying Proverbs
      • Come and Gather
      • Bible Reading Plan
      • Disciple Me Program
    • Christianity
    • Bible Study >
      • 14 Things God’s Love Letter Says About You
      • A Journey of Worship
      • The ABCs of God's Love Letter
      • She Loves Truth
      • Hey Mama! PRAY
      • 52 Days in Psalms
      • 10 Weeks in the New Testament
      • 2 Months in The Pentateuch
      • 12 Minor Prophets
      • 3 Biblical Statements
      • 7 Books of Faith
      • 4 Major Prophets
  • Blog
    • Guest Bloggers
    • IE Link-up
    • Praying Proverbs
    • Jordan River Rules
    • Choosing Gratitude
    • Aging With Grace
    • Seeking Him
    • She Loves Truth
    • Red Sea Rules
  • Come & Dwell
  • The Heart That Heals
    • The Heart That Heals Media Package
  • Sweeter Than Honey
    • Sweeter Than Honey Media Package
  • 16 Names of God
    • 16 Names of God Media Package