Want Good Health? Then Let's Count Our Blessings!

According to various studies conducted by doctors around the country, counting our blessings promotes good physical health. Volunteers who kept weekly gratitude journals, reported fewer aches and pains than those who recorded daily hassles or neutral events.

In promoting strong emotional health, one doctor tells folks to think of someone who has made an important difference in their lives. Then he asks them to write a story of how that person has helped them, and then visit that person and read the story aloud. Tests indicate that people who had done so were happier and reported fewer episodes of depression.

The apostle Paul had a long list of people who had helped him and for whom he was grateful (Romans 16:1-16). He wrote a letter of thanks to the brethren at Rome, telling them that Phoebe had “been a helper,” Priscilla and Aquila had “risked their own necks” for his life, and Mary had “labored much” for him. These Christians had shaped Paul’s life for the better.

Beloved, let us ask ourselves, “Who has helped shape our life for the better?” Could we write them a letter of gratitude — for their sake and for ours? Let’s count our blessings!

"Are you ever burdened with a load of care?
Does the cross seem heavy you are called to bear?
Count your many blessings, every doubt will fly,
And you will be singing as the days go by.
Count your blessings, name them one by one;
Count your blessings see what God hath done;
Count your blessings, name them one by one;
Count your many blessings, see what God hath done" (video) —E.O. Excell

—Mike Riley, Gospel Snippets