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When upon life’s billows you are tempest tossed, When you are discouraged, thinking all is lost, Count your many blessings name them one by one, And it will surprise you what the Lord hath done. |
| Count your blessings, name them one by one; Count your blessings, see what God hath done; Count your blessings, name them one by one, And it will surprise you what the Lord hath done. |
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Are you ever burdened with a load of care? Does the cross seem heavy you are called to bear? Count your many blessings, every doubt will fly, And you will be singing as the days go by. |
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When you look at others with their lands and gold, Think that Christ has promised you His wealth untold. Count your many blessings, money cannot buy Your reward in heaven, nor your Lord on high. |
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So amid the conflict, whether great or small, Do not be discouraged, God is over all; Count your many blessings, angels will attend, Help and comfort give you to your journey’s end. |
In the Old Testament the basic thought with respect to blessing is that of bringing people into God's presence. But in the New Testament the Apostle, coming with God, not only brought people into the presence of God; he also brought God into them. There is a great difference between the Old Testament pattern of blessing by the priests and the New Testament pattern of blessing by the Apostle. The New Testament blessing is much higher and deeper. On the one hand, to bless others is to bring them into the presence of God; on the other hand, it is to bring God into them as love, grace, and fellowship.
All Christians are familiar with the word blessing. One hymn even says, "Count your blessings, name them one by one." Undoubtedly, the concept of blessing expressed in this hymn is that blessing is a matter of being given a good wife, children, education, promotions, houses, and cars. According to this hymn, these are the blessings we should count one by one. More than thirty-five years ago, I sang this hymn during the last few hours of the year. I would gather some together and say, "Let us count the blessings of this past year, one by one." But the blessing according to the pure Word is much different from this. According to the Old Testament pattern of the blessing by the priest and the New Testament pattern of blessing by the Apostle, the proper blessing is to bring people into the presence of God and to bring God into them as grace, love, and fellowship that they may enjoy the Triune God, the Father, the Son, and the Spirit. Hence, blessing is a matter of enjoying the Triune God.
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Enugu, Nigeria
It's quite an inspiration to me, whenever I see it not coming the way I expected, I remember that there's wealth untold that's coming my way. Hallelujah.
Eket, Akwa Ibom, Nigeria
Each time am face with trouble or situations, I cried and remember that God has promise me wealth untold and angels will surely attend to my supplications. Am blessed. Thank You Jesus.
Port Harcourt, Rivers, Nigeria
This song is always on my lip.. every morning.. thank you for the lyrics... God is great.
Aba, Abia, Nigeria
I woke up this morning with this song in my mouth, God is wonderful and I will praise Him all my life.
Osogbo, Southwest, Nigeria
Thank You Lord for everything. With this hymn all my worries and thinking faded away. God is forever Good. I will forever dwell in the house of the Lord.
Surulere, Lagos, Nigeria
Come to think about it, can anyone living truly count their blessings in God?
We may talk of the countless times He delivered us from near death, supper naturally provided for us, spoke in our defense even in our absence, fought our battles, avenge our adversaries etc. But how can we quantify the shame He brought to Himself by handing on the cross as penalty for our sins?
Delhi, India
Am always blessed when I Remember What God has done for me and the once yet to come.
Nairobi, Rongai, Kenya
The song that always reminds to look upon God, when the tempest is raging... Quite a blessing.
Detroit, Michigan, United States
Today at church the message on John 10 emphasized 3 points:
Hear His voice.
Enjoy abundant life - the fruits of the Spirit.
Lay down your life for your brothers and sisters.
I thought, when did I experience these?
I remembered Oliyomi's testimony on this hymn 9/14/2014, in which he said to write down your blessings lest you forget them or take them for granted.
So I add to Oliyomi's testimony, to document when you hear the Lord's voice, when you experience abundant life such as love, joy, peace, long-suffering ... , and finally document when you have had the opportunity to lay down your life for others. Do it for a week, and it will surprise you what the Lord has done.
Tolland, CT, United States
This is no doubt Johnson Oatman’s most well known hymn. While catching in the United States, it gained extreme favor in England. Evangelist Rodney Smith reported that “In London the men sing it, the boys whistle it and the women rock their babies sleep with this hymn. ” The first three of the four verses contrast a person dwelling on their problems with a better choice of enumerating God’s blessings.
The opening verse paints a picture of a ship in a storm st sea. It says when upon life’s billows you are tempest tossed when you are discouraged thinking all is lost...
Verse two asks the question “ Are you burdened with a load of care? Does the cross seem heavy you are called to bear? ” The third verse suggests “ When you look at others with their lands of gold, think that Christ has promised you wealth untold.
Count your blessings money cannot buy. ”
Verse four concludes with the remedy for these situations.
“So amid the conflict whether great or small, Do not be discouraged, God is over all. ; Count your blessings, Angels will attend, Help and comfort to your journey’s end.