Blessings

As a Life Coach, it is important to help clients heal and surrender any roadblocks keeping them from moving forward. It is equally important to acknowledge and name the blessings and miracles God has performed in our lives. Would you believe there have been hundreds, perhaps, thousands?

When we travel through life’s journey, from birth to present, we tend to hang on to the bad stuff, which can overshadow the goodness we have experienced. It is an honor to watch someone recall their blessings and lovingly reflect. It can change the outlook for the future.

An exercise I do with clients is to fill a Blessing Jar with Ebenezer stones of blessings and miracles. Over time, this jar fills up, reminding us what God has done in our lives. My jar includes many people God has placed in my life, good and bad, material and physical things, and life events, including the roadblocks. It’s hard to think of those as blessings, but they certainly are, as they made me who I am today.

“Samuel then took a large stone and placed it between the towns of Mizpah and Jeshanah. He named it Ebenezer (which means “the stones of help”), for he said, “Up to this point the Lord has helped us!” 1 Samuel 7:12

Early in the Christmas story is a priest, Zechariah, who prayed every day for a child. As he aged, he did not believe this prayer would be answered, but continued to ask. Then an angel appeared with news he would have a son and to name him John, the Baptist. I can almost hear Zechariah reply, “yeah right!,” his trust in God wavering. Not only was his prayer answered, but his son played a major role introducing the Messiah, our Savior, Jesus. His unbelief caused him to lose his voice until the baby was born, unable to share this great joy.

When we don’t trust God, or his blessings, and know he will give us exactly what we need, our joy can be stifled! Embrace His gifts this Christmas and feel the excitement of knowing you’ve been blessed.