When searching for job it’s easy to focus on the bottom line-the money. How much does it pay? Money does matter. It’s the currency of the world and its hard to function well without it. But money is not all that matters. We do well to examine the full benefit package. Often a job may provide menial pay but has nice benefits such as flex time, telecommuting, free memberships, or paid sick leave, etc. You can not easily wrap a price tag around those perks. Yet it is easy to forget them when staring at the line of bills waiting to be paid.
In the same way it’s easy to forget the contents of the believer’s benefit package. There are times when our faith in Christ does not appear to be paying off well. Our troubles are not quickly halted even though we have confessed and believed his word. Children are still living amongst swine like the prodigal son despite our best effort to steer them in the right direction. Unexpected news comes that tests our faith at intense levels. Days are dark and it’s hard to see evidence of Christ being with us.
Those are the days we need a praise-boast. It’s those days we need to do like Jody at Overcoming Loneliness begin to recount, remember and rehearse God’s goodness. Shake the dust off our covenant and remember, recount, and rehearse the contents of our benefit package in Christ.
Praise the Lord, O my soul,
and forget not all his benefits–
who forgives all your sins
and heals all your diseases,
who redeems your life from the pit
and crowns you with love and compassion,
who satisfies your desires with good things
so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s. Psalm 103:1-5 (NIV)
You can’t read those words without a thank you bubbling up within you. Remembering his goodness leads us back to the road of Judah(praise). Even if you are walking through unsatisfying times now can you recall how he brought you up out of the pit of hopelessness, despair, loneliness, grief, anger, or in the past? If he did it before he can certainly do it again. Unlike coupons, there is no limits to the number of times you can redeem your benefits.
Photo Credit:svilen001@ Stock.xchng
Thank You, Lord! Amen, Wanda. A few days ago I was speaking to a friend who was certain she was “on the edge” (she use to live a life where she worried about nothing because she had lots of money; now she worries about everything because she has no money). I had to remind her that God is not just a provider of money. His faithfulness can’t be limited to cash. I reminded her of these words spoken in the midst of great suffering and loss: As for me, I know that my Redeemer lives, And at the last He will take His stand on the earth. – Job 19:25. Whatever is happening in any moment, our Redeemer is at work and in control; of that we can be certain. No expiration. No limit.
It’s so easy to lose sight that God is not only aware of all things but He is in fact in work in the midst of all things. You’re true treasure LaVonne. So much truth and wisdom in what you share with others.
I like the idea of renewing our optimism and seeing things through fresh eyes~ We do get blind sometimes to the good, if life has been bitter, not sweet. Thanks Wanda 😀
You’re right Ellie. I think the bitter helps us better appreciate the sweet at times.
I was just meditating upon Psalm 103 and our benefits earlier this evening! Praise God, He has fully supplied all that we need……Spirit, Soul and Body!!!
Blessings to you!
Jackie
He has us fully covered 🙂
Hey Wanda needed this. The enemy is trying to plauge my mind with fears financially and physically. Blessings to you dear one.
Hi JBR, continue to fight him with the truth found in God’s word. He is faithful! All the best to you.
Amen! I love the benefits package
It’s the best one we can obtain any where 😉
….and what a great benefit package it is. The package of all packages!
Sweetie, this is exactly what I needed to read this evenin’. THANK YOU!
Have a wonderfully blessed and beautiful day sweetie!!! :o)
He left no nothing uncovered in that package Nezzy. Blessings to you.
Thanks for the beautifully encouraging post, Wanda! You can’t beat the benefits that faith in Christ brings. That’s a wonderful scripture that does make joy and gratitude bubble up from within!
Hi Connie, good to see you drop by. Every now and then I need that remember of just how well God has provided for me. Hope you enjoy a great weekend.
another inspiring post. I love that you called it the benefits package:)
Happy weekend!
Nutschell
http://www.thewritingnut.com
Hi Nutschell, hope you enjoy a great weekend as well.
Hi Wanda –
Thank you – yes, we need to keep all in perspective. I appreciate this reminder.
True Sandra, our perspective matters.
I agree with all the comments this is always our subject matter. Thanks for the information.