If we are too busy lamenting about our challenges, we can quickly become blind to the blessings. Welcome to our new writer, Becky.
“Therefore, brothers, in all our distress and persecution we were encouraged about you because of your faith. For now we really live, since you are standing firm in the Lord” (I Thessalonians 3:7-8).
Saturday was my cousin’s wedding day. As I walked along with the bridesmaids I looked down and found a four leaf clover. In my excitement I said, “I found a four leaf clover!”
“Already?” The sister of the groom asked.
As I bent over to have a better look I found a second, third, and fourth four leaf clover. Next, her daughter said she found one as well!
We noticed one of them were actually five leaf clovers–which she had never seen before. We picked two clovers and the girls began snapping pictures of the special finds.
What is the secret of finding a four leaf clover? I believe it is looking.
My grandmother used to have us look for them beside her home just beyond the front door. I have precious memories of sitting outside with my grandmother, sister, and cousins searching for four leaf clovers. We would then take them inside and press them in the phone books.
Counting blessings is somewhat like that. I have to look for them. They are there.
There may be a sea of problems surrounding them, but I am so thankful that they are there.
Perhaps for you it is like the verse I Thessalonians 3:7. In your distress and illness you are encouraged because someone else is coming to faith through what you are going through.
Perhaps today your joints feel well enough to write a little longer. Maybe today your friend needed someone to talk to and you were able to offer a listening ear because you can relate.
Are there blessings that you have previously overlooked in your life right now?
When we find one four leaf clover, there are usually a few more nearby. The same is true of blessings.
Lord Jesus, thank You for the way You speak to us in Your Word. Thank You for placing blessings in my life and the lives of those around me. Please help me to be still and look for the treasures in my life. In Your Name, Amen.
About the author:
Becky Elie lives in the Midwest and enjoys spending time with family. She was diagnosed with tuberculosis (TB) while teaching in Asia and is well after many months of medication and God’s care. She is learning that it is in her weaknesses that God’s strength is made known. Becky enjoys painting, photography, and learning more about living for Christ.
Are there blessings that you have previously overlooked in your life right now?
This song is a worship classic, “Open The Eyes of My Heart, Lord” with Michael W. Smith. Take a few minutes to just worship the Lord with the music. All around us we are surrounded by miracles and blessings if we just take the time to look for them, instead of counting our burdens. -Lisa
Dear Becky,
Welcome and thanks for this devotional. Counting my blessing is what helps me through tough times. The start of a new school year can remind me of how much I miss teaching…can torment me and tempt me to count my burdens. So I start counting the blessings surrounding my life because of my illness. I’m able to visit my aging mother. I can spend more time with my husband or have lunch with a hurting friend.
Years ago God called me back into teaching. That meant I couldn’t spend full days with our youngest son, Rob. I grieved the loss of the precious times I could have had. But God had a better, more perfect plan. In 1999 I got meningitis. Because of that illness, I was able to stay home during Rob’s senior year in high school. I had time to spend devotions with him, watch him as he led his marching band as drum major…Meningitis has the worst pain I ever experienced. But God used it go bless me abundantly.
Dear Becky,
Great job on your first devotional. It is a much needed message as I am going through financial concerns right now and God is asking me to trust in a way I have avoided in the past…namely, using credit cards to pay for medication when I still owe thousands of dollars to these companies and there is no obvious extra income anytime soon. But I do not know that for sure. Maybe I caan become well enough to work in another year. But I keep thinking ‘what if I cannot, then what’. I used to make good money and never had this kind of debt. But God has always come through one way or another, usually after I let go of my own agenda. Letting go is hard.
Thank you again and thank you for listening
Maria
I don’t know what your circumstances are, but I do know the One who does. I am happy to pray with you over this! When I was very sick, I received so many gifts through other people. In the hospital I was in, in the country I was in, I was not permitted to leave without paying my bill (let’s just say that after 19 days and several tests, it was not free). God knows your situation. He is able to meet needs according to His will. Let’s fix our eyes on Him. He is our greatest blessing.
“12 ‘O our God, will You not judge them? For we are powerless before this great multitude who are coming against us; nor do we know what to do, but our eyes are on You.’ 13All Judah was standing before the LORD, with their infants, their wives and their children.” (II Chronicles 20:12-13)
Becky, welcome to the writing crew! I just love this devotional!
I live in Canada and we celebrate our Thanksgiving this weekend. As some of the readers will know, I had an accident a few weeks ago that left me in hospital with a painful back injury. My husband and I could have gone to a larger hospital, close to where this happened, but we decided to go on past our town and to another small town where there’s a healthcare facility. I’m so thankful that they were able to take care of me right away and that they had a room available in their acute care unit for me. I have quite few church friends there who came to see me and I got excellent care. Once I got my appetite back I really enjoyed the meals too, believe it or not. Fresh salads, homemade soup, etc., etc.
How thankful I am that the Lord arranged all that (and that I’ve been home for over a month now and have improved a lot).
May you be blessed again and again by your writing and the comments you receive!
This is a lovely devotion. I’ve been going through a difficult time and was finding I was struggling to sleep for going through the problems. I’ve got into a new habit of spending those last few moments of the day focusing on any good moments that have happened. There are always a lot more than I expect and it’s really helped me change my perspective.
What a lovely devotion and so true. Welcome to the family of writers. I love to call the serendipitous gifts God gives me every day roses. At the end of the day, I gather my roses and present them to Him as a sweet-smelling bouquet. I look forward to reading more from you.
A belated welcome to the RM writing team Becky! 🙂
What a great analogy in your devotional. Thanks for the wonderful message.
I’ve been doing a gratitude journal for nearly 2 years now. I stopped recently while I had surgery & got out of the habit of writing 3 things I’m thankful to God for each day. When I realized a couple of weeks ago that I’d forgotten my gratitude journal & was feeling miserable, I restarted it. I’m amazed at the difference it makes to my mood & attitude each day. There’s always something to be thankful for & sometimes it’s hard to stop at 3 things!! God bless. Lotsoluv Kerryn