Each morning as I leave for work, I often use the first part of my drive for a little “Thank-You” time. It is not really prayer, it is just a few moments of thankfulness. I begin by telling God some of the things for which I am thankful. I mention people: my wife, my children, my grandchildren. I mention things: my job, my car, my computer, my big screen television, etc.
Sometimes as I drive along, I try to think of things that I have never given God a “thank you” for – my sight, my feet, my blood, my fingers, my toes, and all things I would miss so much if they were gone or defective.Once you start thinking like this, you can go on and on. Even in this writing, I have not mentioned my health or my wealth. I am healthy and have no complaints. My only bad health has come from bad habits (diet and exercise). As for wealth, none of us are Bill Gates, but we are all rich people. We ought to give thanks to God for our wealth.
The Bible says that Job was the richest man in the east and we know that in his day, the east was the richest part of the world. Job never slept in an air-conditioned room, watched a color television, or rode in an automobile, or flew in a plane. You and I have done all of these things. If he was rich, then what are we?
God has given us so much that it is hard to imagine why any of us would ever be unhappy. There is a reason for it and here it is: blessed people become unhappy when they focus on the things they do not have instead of the things they do have. Count your blessings and not your troubles. That is the secret of happiness. Paul said, “Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” 1 Thess 5:16-18).