In the midst of a pandemic and political turmoil, such a scripture as quoted above offers much needed hope. God’s lavish blessings do extend from A to Z for those who put their trust in him. And if we focus our attention on counting those blessings, we’ll have little time to count anything else (1).
So which of the following are you enjoying currently? Count them on your fingers while scrolling through the list.
- Assurance of purpose (Ephesians 2:10)
- Beauty for ashes (Isaiah 61:3)—including peace, joy, and comfort in the midst of pain and sorrow
- Contentment (1 Timothy 6:6-8)
- Direction (Psalm 23:3b)
- Empowerment (Isaiah 40:29-31)
- Favor (Psalm 5:12)
- God’s Goodness (Psalm 145:9)
- Help (Psalm 46:1)
- Inheritance (1 Peter 1:3-4)
- Joy (Nehemiah 8:10)—in God and his attributes
- Knowledge for a satisfying life (Proverbs 2:6)
- Love (Jeremiah 31:3)
- Mercy (Ephesians 2:4-5)
- Needs Met (Philippians 4:19)
- Optimism (Romans 8:28)
- Presence of God (Psalm 145:18)
- Quietness of soul (Zephaniah 3:17)
- Refreshment of spirit (Psalm 23:3)
- Spiritual Strength (Isaiah 41:10)
- Treasure of Scripture (Psalm 119:159-162)
- Usefulness—even into old age (Psalm 92:12-15)
- Value in God’s sight (Ephesians 2:4-7)
- Wisdom (Proverbs 3:13)
- X-pectation (Mark 9:23)
- Yes, because “all of God’s promises have been fulfilled in Christ with a resounding ‘Yes’” (1 Corinthians 1:20 NLT)
- Zion—the eternal city of new Jerusalem waiting for us (Hebrews 12:22-24, Revelation 21 and 22)
I’m guessing you tallied twenty or more, because many blessings are ongoing no matter our circumstances. Sometimes we just need to avail ourselves of the joys God has already provided.
Of course, this is not an exhaustive list. We could undoubtedly name many more blessings as a result of trusting in God.
Take “P” for example. God offers such additional pleasures as: peace that defies explanation (Philippians 4:6-7), pardon from guilt and shame (Isaiah 55:7b), participation with God in his work (Philippians 2:13), and pleasures at God’s right hand (Psalm 16:11).
So there you have it, a mere sampling of the joys continually provided by God as we trust in him. Just how many might there be in total? DailyVerses.net lists eighty scriptures that speak of blessing.
Our joys that extend from A to Z do outweigh our sorrows.
* * * * * * * * * *
We praise you, O God, for your abundant love, kindness, faithfulness, and compassion, expressed every day by your overflowing generosity. How great is the goodness you have stored up for those who trust in you. We will sing your praise for as long as we live!
Psalm 86:15; 116:5; 31:19; 146:2
Now it’s your turn to make an alphabet of joy. (“Z” might be a challenge; you can borrow the word “Zion” from this list!) I promise, you’ll find the exercise a delightful blessing.
Meanwhile, which joy is especially meaningful to you in this moment? Please share in the comment section below!
Notes:
- Woodrow Kroll
- https://dailyverses.net/blessing/esv
Photo credits: http://www.canva.com; http://www.wallpaperflare.com; http://www.canva.com; Unknown; http://www.pixfuel.com.
From the Inside Out 