Recognizing Our Blessings: How It Shapes Who and What We Live For

Sometimes, it’s easy to get caught up in the everyday grind and lose sight of the blessings in our lives. We get busy, overwhelmed, or even discouraged, and the very things we should be thankful for go unnoticed. But have you ever stopped to think about what happens when we miss those blessings? If we don’t know what our blessings are, how will we know what or who we are truly living for?

Blessings Reveal Who God Is

First and foremost, our blessings are often the clearest reflections of God’s love, care, and provision. When we recognize our blessings, big or small, we are acknowledging God’s hand in our lives. Whether it’s the roof over our heads, the food on our tables, or the moments of peace we experience in the chaos, these are gifts from a loving God.

James 1:17 puts it like this: “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights.” If every good thing in our lives comes from Him, then recognizing those blessings brings us back to the realization of who we’re living for. It pulls our focus away from ourselves or the world and re-centers it on God.

Gratitude: The Key to Living with Purpose

There’s a well-known saying, “Count your blessings.” But there’s more to it than simply checking off a mental list. Counting your blessings shifts your perspective. When you’re mindful of all that God has done for you, it cultivates gratitude. And gratitude isn’t just a feel-good attitude; it’s a foundation for living with intention and purpose.

Think about Colossians 3:17: “And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God.” When we operate from a place of gratitude, we are actively choosing to live for God. We recognize that all we do, whether at work, at home, or even in our downtime, should be done as a reflection of our thanks to Him. Our actions become more intentional because we understand who we are working for.

Blessings and Our Identity

One of the most profound impacts of recognizing our blessings is that it reminds us of our identity. You are a child of God, and as His child, you’re an heir to incredible spiritual blessings. Think about that for a second—an heir to God’s kingdom! Romans 8:16-17 tells us that we are “heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ.”

When we pause to reflect on the spiritual blessings we’ve received—salvation, grace, peace, the presence of the Holy Spirit—it’s impossible not to feel a sense of purpose. Knowing who we belong to gives us a clear understanding of who we are living for: a loving Father who has already blessed us beyond measure.

Finding Trust and Purpose in God's Provision

Often, life throws us challenges that make it hard to see the blessings in front of us. We might be praying for something specific—healing, financial stability, or even peace in a tough situation—and it can feel like the blessings are few and far between. But even in those seasons, recognizing the blessings we do have helps us trust in God’s ongoing provision.

Jeremiah 17:7 reminds us, “Blessed is the man that trusteth in the Lord, and whose hope the Lord is.” When we know where our blessings come from, we trust that God will continue to provide, even when things aren’t going the way we hoped. That trust gives us a purpose: to live faithfully, with the understanding that God is guiding our steps.

Blessings Lead to Action: Living for Others

It’s important to remember that we aren’t blessed just for our own benefit. We are blessed to be a blessing to others. In Genesis 12:2-3, God tells Abraham, “I will bless thee … and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.” This same principle applies to us. When we recognize our blessings, it encourages us to share them, whether that’s through giving, serving, or simply offering kindness to others.

Living for God means living out His mission. We’re called to be a light to others, and part of that comes from recognizing how much we’ve been given and using those blessings to impact the lives of those around us.

Missing the Blessings = Missing the Bigger Picture

So, what happens if we don’t know what our blessings are? If we overlook them or fail to acknowledge them, we risk losing sight of the bigger picture. It becomes easy to feel like we’re living without direction, caught up in the pursuit of more, constantly searching for something else to fill the void.

But when we stop and reflect on the blessings in our lives, it’s a powerful reminder that we are living for something greater than ourselves. We are living for a God who blesses us abundantly, even when we don’t always see it. It puts everything into perspective—our struggles, our triumphs, and everything in between.

The Blessings Are Already There

At the end of the day, the blessings we often search for may already be present, hidden in plain sight. Sometimes we’re looking for something big or extraordinary, but it’s in the everyday moments—the provision, the relationships, the spiritual gifts—where God’s blessings truly shine.

When we recognize them, we see God’s hand in our lives, which in turn helps us know who we’re living for and what we’re living for. We live with gratitude, purpose, and a heart ready to bless others, knowing that God has already given us so much.

So, if you’re ever feeling lost or uncertain about what you’re living for, start by counting your blessings. You might just find that everything you’ve been looking for has already been provided.

November 1, 2024

B Nicole Baxley