Count your blessings: An exercise from Philippians

“Count your blessings” isn’t just something your grandmother says. It’s in the Bible too, really. The apostle Paul says we ought to to spend time thinking about the things that are good in our lives and in the world. But the verb he uses is a counting word. So, if you’re looking for a way to cultivate the feeling of gratitude you shared with others at Thanksgiving, try counting your blessings like this.

Logizomai

In Philippians 4:8, Paul uses the Greek word λογίζομαι (logizomai) where we see the word “think,” “dwell,” or “meditate,” depending on the translation. It means to count or make an account of something, take an inventory, add it together and consider the whole of it. What kind of thankfulness could it cultivate if we spent our time making a full accounting of the good things God has done in our lives, in the lives of those we love, and the world around us?

But actually counting up all our blessings can be easier when we have some structure to guide us. The good news is the Bible gives us a list of what to count. List the qualities of the things we’re instructed to make an account of in Philippians 4:8. Then follow it with something in your life that matches each word and think about which ones bring you the most joy (e.g. Patience: My mom). Do this on your own or with your family.

Jill Foley Turner

Jill Foley Turner is NCF’s Director of Content and Editorial. She leads the marketing team that curates content for NCF’s Saturday 7 newsletter. She loves writing stories from the Bible, stories about generous people, and articles about trends and research into what is happening in the world of giving.

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