Healing Rays of Righteousness

Once again we enter into the busy time of Thanksgiving and Christmas celebrations and special religious services.  For many of us, it is a colorful and happy time of gratefulness and gift giving, as it should be.  A time of focused reflection on God’s goodness to us.

However, I fear that too often Thanksgiving Day is simply a brief pause in the anxious rush to prepare for the various activities and celebrations of Christmas.  And as such, Thanksgiving Day is not experienced as a joyous time of remembering our blessings and expressing our thanks to God for all His goodness to us.  I think our gracious Father God must be deeply hurt and grieved with our failure to honor Him on this special day with our expressions of thankful gratitude as we remember and count his blessings to us.

King David praised God with these words, “Praise the Lord, my soul; all my inmost being, praise his holy name.  Praise the Lord, my soul, and forget not all his benefits – who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion, who satisfies your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.” (Psalm 103:1-5).

And in another psalm, “Great is the Lord and most worthy of praise; his greatness no one can fathom.  One generation commends your works to another; they tell of your mighty acts. … They celebrate your abundant goodness and joyfully sing of your righteousness.”  (Psalm 145:3,4,7).

For many of us the past year did not go as we had hoped.  Most of us experienced a difficult year because of responding to a deadly coronavirus and divisive politics.  Some of us may have experienced the devastating loss of job or health or death of loved ones.  Even so, I believe, there is always much for which we can be and should be thankful.

The Thanksgiving-Christmas season offers us an annual opportunity to count our blessings, large and small, and to give thanks to God who is the source of every good and gracious gift.  We need to often remind ourselves that we do not deserve anything we enjoy, not one thing, including our caring family and friends, a good meal, or a warm bed.  In fact, we don’t even deserve the fresh air we just inhaled or the steady beat of our heart giving us moment by moment life.

The most important attitude that we will ever cultivate is the attitude of gratitude, of being thankful.  A grateful attitude causes our life to open up like a flower, full of beauty and sweet fragrance. It causes our life to be filled with joy and pleasant surprises because we see God blessing us in so many ways.

Every situation, whether of pain or loss, has the potential for gratitude or resentment.  Every problem provides opportunity for a stronger faith and new relationships with God and others.  A thankful heart discovers blessings even in the worse of situations and circumstances.

Health research shows that people who count their blessings sleep better, are more active, and care more about others.  People who gratefully count their blessings every day, show significant improvements in mental, physical, and spiritual health.  And these results are proven true regardless of your age or life situation.

How will you celebrate this Thanksgiving Day?  Will it just be another day of taking your many blessings for granted, or will it be a day of counting your blessings and joyfully thanking God with a grateful heart?

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Hymn:                              Count Your Blessings

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 you many blessings; every 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.

Chorus

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.

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“Healing Rays of Righteousness” – November 18, 2020

www.geigler13.wordpress.com

Ray M. Geigley