What Do You Do With A Blessing?

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What Do You Do With A Blessing?

I’m a list person. Lists are a must. How else will I keep up with what I need to do? In reflecting on how I always need to record my “to dos”, I thought, “What do you do with a blessing?” I know it’s a crazy question, but that’s the way my mind works sometimes. After a while I thought of these eight actions as a blessing “to do” list.

Be thankful

You have been given a gift. Sometimes it is unexpected and others, it was anticipated. But either way it is something to be thankful for.

Lament no more

Are any of you like me when it comes to those blessings you prayed for? Sometimes after I get it, I keep looking back on how long I waited, how difficult it was, or how my faith wasn’t as strong as I had hoped it would be. Lamenting instead of focusing on the blessing is craziness. Let it go. Lament no more.

Enjoy it

I know this seems like a “duh” kind of thing, but it isn’t. It’s not that hard to get caught up in worrying about the next thing or just saying a quick thanks and getting caught up in day to day life. But really, stop and enjoy it. No matter haw many blessings we get or how often, they are all special and need to be fully enjoyed and appreciated.

Share it with others

It encourages others when we share the good things that happen to us. If it is a response to prayer, it gives them hope for their own prayers. Even better, it allows them to rejoice with us. That’s good for everyone.

Strengthen your faith

Were you surprised at your good fortune? Had you been asking for a turn of events? Either way, when the blessing comes, use it to strengthen your faith. If you prayed and patiently waited, now you have a trust experience to draw upon. What if you struggled through it not so nicely? Then you can reflect on your learning patience and trust lesson. If it came as a surprise, now you know God has the power to bless in ways you’d never imagine. All are good reference points and strengthen your faith.

Ink to Paper

It’s easy to forget all the many things that occur in a day, a week, a year. When you are having a hard time or a rough spot, it’s nice to be able to look back and see all the good that has happened. One way to do that is to write it down. Keep a blessings journal. Even if all you do is record a date and a brief description of the blessings you received, it will speak volumes more to you later. Trust me, you will cherish those memories that help you remember God is good and faithful.

New perspective

I’d be remiss to not say that some blessings come in ugly packages. It’s good to get a new perspective on some of the ugly in our lives. Some events are actually blessings, though they can feel like anything but that. Think about what good can come from the situation. Or start keeping track of how God sees you through it. Ugly “wrappers” shouldn’t discredit the contents of the package.

Give God praise

God is the giver of all blessings so we should praise Him for it. “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 NIV)