A David psalm. O my soul, bless GOD. From head to toe, I'll bless his
holy name! O my soul, bless GOD, don't forget a single blessing!(Psa 103:1-2 MSG)
John Bull is the marketing manager of the company he has
been with for fifteen years. While the job has afforded him the basic needs of
life John Bull has been trying for the past four years to change to a rival
company where their working condition is a lot better and he believes he has
more prospects. However, after four years John Bull has become so frustrated he
constantly nags and complains about everything.
By any standard Rita Jordan is a beautiful lady. She
graduated from the university nine years ago with a distinction and she holds a
very good job in an oil servicing firm. She is rich, polished and fun to be
with but something is still lacking: Rita Jordan is not yet married and there
is no man on the line. She will be thirty this year and has become desperate to
get hooked up. Rita Jordan doesn’t think God loves her anymore.
Every couple’s joy is to hold their baby in their hands and
nurture their own children to adulthood. For 23 years the joy of parenthood has
eluded the family of the Smiths. Medical examination couldn’t find where the
problem is. For the past two decades
their constant cry to the Lord has been for the fruit of the womb. They are
tired, angry and frustrated: they have long concluded that God doesn’t care
about them and they have even stopped going to church.
I have seen and heard many Christians complain and nag about
things we want or need and I have not gotten in the time frame we desired; I
have done a few complaints of my own too! It is a natural and good desire to
always want increase and better things in life. I believe it is a God given
desire to discourage us from being complacent and lackadaisical about life.
However, many of us have formed the habit of throwing tantrums at God and
people around us when we do not get our heart desire on time. Objectively, this
cannot be said to have ever helped our case either with God or man.
No matter what we lack at present, it is hardly surprising
that some other people are in more dire state and while we might not have some
things we desire, there are many other blessings we refuse to acknowledge. We
might still be in need but God is still faithful; we might still lack some
things but God still deserves praise for those things he has already given.
Like someone rightly said, ‘if we have lost anything at all it is because of
God we have not lost everything’. There are numerous ‘small blessings’ that we
should form the habit of thanking God for and stop taking them for granted.
Have you wondered how it feels to lose your toes? Walking
well would become a nightmare. Have you imagined what it is to be blind; ask
does who can’t see? You do not want to experience not being able to go to the
toilet yourself. If you are reading this you are most likely not an imbecile;
isn’t that worth thanking God for? You have got no job but some of your school
mates are not even alive. You want a bigger house but some people daily sleep
under bridges and in public places. All I am saying is that there are always
things we can thank God for and when we do this, we open avenues for more
blessings. So, if you want a car and you have not gotten it; thank God first
for that new shoe! After all, some don’t even have legs for old shoes!
Forget none of God’s many blessing, count them one by one,
let your heart glorify the Lord, sing his praise, develop an attitude of
thanksgiving because when our praises go up; blessings come down.
