Why Do You Serve God? -Count Your Blessings

Count Your Blessings

First, meditate on the daily blessings that  you receive from God.  Think about Jehovah's good gifts: his manifold works of creation-accessible to all irrespective of social or economic status-his natural provisions of food and drink, the measure of health that you enjoy, your knowledge of Bible truth, and chiefly, the gift of his Son.  His death paved the way for you to serve God with a clean conscience.  (John 3:16; James 1:17) The more you meditate on God's goodliness, the more your appreciation for him will grow.  Your heart will then move you to serve him our of gratitude for all that he has done.  No doubt you will begin to feel again as did the psalmist who wrote:  "Many things you yourself have done, O Jehovah my God, even your wonderful works and your thoughts toward us, there is none to be compared to you. . . .They have become more numerous than I can recount."-Psalm 40:5.

These words were written by David, a man whose life was far from trouble free. As  a young man, David spent much of his time on the run as wicked King Saul and his bodyguards sought him  out to kill him.  (1 Samuel 23:7, 8, 19-23) David also had personal weaknesses with which to contend.  He acknowledged this  in the 40th Psalm:  "Calamities encircle me until there was no numbering of them.  More errors of mine overtook me than I was able to see; they became more numerous than the hairs on my head."  (Psalm 40:12) Yes, David had troubles, but he was not completely overwhelmed by them.  He focused on the ways in which Jehovah was blessing him, despite his problems, and he found that those blessings far outweighed his woes.

When you feel engulfed by personal problems or by feelings of inadequacy, it is good to stop and count your blessings, as David did.  Undoubtedly, appreciation for such blessings moved you to dedicate  yourself to Jehovah; such thoughts can also help you to rekindle lost joy and help you to serve God from an appreciative heart. 

Next time: Congregation Meetings Can Help

The Watchtower, 2000