Nashville, Tennessee, United States - The Upper Room Daily Devotional "Blessings of the Day" Wednesday, 30 April 2014 - Read Colossians 3:15-17 - Psalm 16:7-8

Nashville, Tennessee, United States - The Upper Room Daily Devotional "Blessings of the Day" Wednesday, 30 April 2014 - Read Colossians 3:15 And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful. 16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly; in all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your heart to the Lord.
17 Whatever you do, in word or in deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father, through him. — Psalm 16:7 I will bless Yahweh, who has given me counsel.
    Yes, my heart instructs me in the night seasons.
8 I have set Yahweh always before me.
    Because he is at my right hand, I shall not be moved.
The psalmist wrote, “I will praise the Lord, who counsels me; even at night my heart instructs me. I keep my eyes always on the Lord. With him at my right hand, I will not be shaken.”
When my husband left me with three children and a mortgage, I thought my life was close to impossible to bear. I never had enough time, money, or help to get through the day. I struggled not to feel sorry for myself, especially when it seemed as if everyone around me had a wonderful life. Then one day I read about someone who practiced thinking of three things to be thankful for at the end of each day. I decided to try it. At first, I could think only of simple things — like being thankful for electricity and hot water for showers. Then I realized that I had always taken those things for granted and that I really should be thankful for them. As I continued this daily practice, it became easier; I began to notice more and more things to be thankful for. I learned to be thankful for a phone call from a friend, the smell and beauty of a freshly mown lawn, the sound of my children laughing, and dinner on the table in the evening. This gratitude has helped me to realize how many blessings God gives us every day that we seldom take the time to notice. In turn, my gratitude has made my burdens easier to bear.
The Author: Sally Berry (New York, USA)
Thought for the Day: What three things am I thankful for today?
Prayer: Dear God, help us always to keep our eyes and hearts open to the blessings you send us every day. Amen.
Prayer focus: Single parents and their children
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