Count Your Many Blessings

 

Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever. Give thanks to the God of gods, for his steadfast love endures forever. It is he who remembered us in our low estate, for his steadfast love endures forever; and rescued us from our foes, for his steadfast love endures forever; he who gives food to all flesh, for his steadfast love endures forever. Give thanks to the God of heaven, for his steadfast love endures forever. (Psalm 136:1-2; 24-26 ESV).

 

“Count your blessings, name them one by one…” These words are part of an old hymn Christians have sung for more than 100 years, and the message is still important today. Central to the pilgrim journey we travel is taking stock of the gifts God has given us. Psalm 136 has reminded people of this fact for well over 2,000 years, and it urges us to remember God’s goodness in community. In this psalm we can see a clear call and response. As God’s people sang this psalm together, a worship leader would sing the first phrase, and the people would respond with the refrain “His love endures forever.” Again and again they would recount what God had done for them from freeing them, to feeding them, to remembering them. And as they counted their blessings, they would say, “His loves endures forever.”

 

Sometimes while worshiping with God’s people, I notice echoes of this psalm’s graceful rhythms. The wonders of God’s grace and forgiveness are declared, and the people sing a hymn of thanksgiving. The good news that Jesus saves and that God’s Spirit is at work among us is preached. Often I have seen God’s promise of blessing spoken over the people, and they receive it joyfully with an “Amen.” It is reminiscent of the refrain often spoken… “God is good”… and the answer always a resounding… “All the time”!

 

However you worship, use this psalm as a reminder of the many blessings God has given you. Use the lyrics of the ancient hymn to prompt you to a deeply moving sense of gratitude. All of things God did for Israel He has repeated eternally in the gift of redemption through His Son, Jesus.

 

Count your many blessings, name them one by one!