There’s counting sheep when you can’t sleep, counting your chickens before they hatch, (or not) counting the cost before you commit to something, counting cards, counting down to the new year, counting your losses –

There are a lot of things I can choose to count, but it occurs to me that perhaps I could spend more time counting my blessings and a lot less time consumed with counting my losses. These words of an old hymn come to my mind –

“Count your blessings, name them one by one . . . count your blessings . . . and it will surprise you what the Lord has done.”

Have I been so focused lately on my losses, that I have been oblivious to God’s goodness, faithfulness, provision and protection surrounding me on a daily basis? Why am I focused on what I don’t have when I could just as easily focus instead on what I do have? That’s a choice that is mine alone to make each day. Where will my focus be? What will I choose to count? I’ve been hanging out with Habakkuk lately and am always surprised at these words of his, even though I’ve heard them before –

“Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will be joyful in God my Savior. The Sovereign Lord is my strength; He makes my feet like the feet of a deer, He enables me to go on the heights.” (Habakkuk 3:17-19)

Habakkuk does start by listing some things that he is currently lacking. But then he pivots, saying that he chooses to rejoice, to be joyful in God, his Savior. Habakkuk acknowledges it is God who gives him strength and it is God who “enables him to go on the heights.” Truly, God’s presence with me brings me everything I need and more. King David said as much in this psalm –

“The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not be in want.” (Psalm 23:1)

James said this –

“Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.” (James 1:17)

And Paul said this in his letter to the Corinthians –

“And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.” (2 Corinthians 9:8)

I already have all that I need and more! God’s daily blessings to me far outweigh my life’s losses, which are inevitable for each one of us as long as we inhabit these “jars of clay.” There are so many people that I miss on a daily basis – sometimes the pain is so prevalent that it threatens to paralyze simply by eclipsing the joy, the hope and the peace that my Heavenly Father’s presence provides me in abundance every hour of every day.

BUT – I don’t have to dwell on the pain that comes with counting my losses. I can choose instead to count my blessings. And with God, there are always blessings to count and give Him the thanks for providing them in such abundance and so faithfully. After all –

“His mercies never fail. They are new every morning; great is His faithfulness.” (Lamentations 3:22-23)

It is up to me. What will I spend my time counting? I will choose to follow the advice of these words –

“Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” (1 Thessalonians 5:16)

Like Habakkuk, even in the tough times, especially in the tough times – I will look to God and count all of His daily, good, undeserved gifts that I continually receive from His hand. Like King David recounted, even in the worst of circumstances, God’s provision and protection were evident and overflowing. Rather than bemoan or count his losses, David gave account in Psalm 23 of all God’s good gifts, of all the blessings given to him, including the gift of God’s Presence always with him. When I need to be reminded to count my blessings rather than my losses, my hurts, my regrets etc. – I will start with Psalm 23, making the words my own –

“The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not be in want. He makes me lie down in green pastures, He leads me beside quiet waters, He restores my soul. He guides me in paths of righteousness for His name’s sake. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Surely goodness and mercy will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.” (Psalm 23:1-6)

Too many good gifts of God to count – His presence with me, His care for me, His provision, His guidance, His restoration, His protection, His comfort, His abundance sustaining me and overflowing – these are the things I will count and recount to others – giving God all the thanks and the honor and the glory.

sincerely, Grace Day