Counting Our Blessings
So often we let a negative event control our lives by letting it change how we view life. When we look for negativity, there is no problem finding it.
The same goes for positivity – if we choose it. There is so much to be thankful for. There are many small things in our lives that are easy to take for granted, and stopping to think about them and responding with a thankful spirit can bring a new outlook to our lives. All of the advantages to living in this day and age – modern medicine, legal rights, and freedoms that were not possible at other times in history – are blessings we don’t often count.
Enjoying God’s Creation
Simply taking a step away from what is causing sadness or stress to go outside and take in God’s creation can bring us joy. Joy can be found in the beauty of what God created for us and can give us a perspective larger than ourselves. We should take time to pause and think about the uniqueness of every single person in the world. We have all been made by God as unique individuals, and while we may not have what someone else has, the same can be said for them. Things that we complain about so often are what make us each our own people.
While we may not like everything about ourselves, we are God’s creation and there is so much joy in that.
Choosing Positivity
In looking at all of the blessings in our lives, we must choose to find joy and positivity in the world. We should not deny the bad things that exist, but instead, choose to enjoy the many blessings that come from being a person created by God. This is not always something that comes easy, but we can all find good things in our lives and even in our existence as completely unique individuals. Choosing to have a joyful life is possible for all of us, no matter what circumstances we find ourselves in because we have a creator who loves us and who has given us something to live for in this life.
- What is your initial reaction to this topic? What jumped out at you?
- What triggers the most negativity in your life? What are some ways you can combat negativity with positivity?
- Read Isaiah 64:8. What does it mean to be made by the hand of God?
- What are some ways you can step back to enjoy creation in your life?
- With all of the turmoil in our world, how do we stay positive while staying informed?
- Write a personal action step based on this conversation.
