I have a cure for depression.  Every single day when you get up in the morning, write down 5 blessings in your life.  Each day must be 5 new blessings – you can’t repeat your blessings.  At first, it’s easy – you see the obvious and you begin writing.  Day 2, not so hard.  Day 3, you have to begin digging a little deeper.  By day 6 or 7, it begins to get harder and you begin to realize that even in the smallest of things, you have been blessed.  By the second week, one can know without a shadow of a doubt, that God has blessed their life abundantly.

In Deuteronomy 6, Moses is receiving instructions from God to tell the people of Israel.  Moses is charged with teaching the people God’s commandment – “Love the Lord your God, with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your might (Deut. 6:5).  God says to write in on your heart and your forehead.  Teach it to your children so that they can teach their children.  Write it on your doorposts and on your gates.  Talk freely to your children about God – when you are at home, when you are away, when you sit down, and when you rise.  Keep these words in your heart!

But there is caution if we do not obey what God wants us to do – to put Him first and to keep Him in our hearts, soul, and minds – 24 hours a day!  And, what about when we fail to teach our children the Word of God so that our children can teach their children?

God is about to lead Moses into the promised land – the land of “milk and honey.”  He tells them, “You are going to be blessed.  Your houses will be filled with all sorts of goods and you will eat your fill, (Deut. 6:11).  God warns them – Be careful!  Don’t follow other gods…I will be angry! (Deut. 6:14-15)

All of what we have, what we own, and whom God has placed into our lives, is a blessing and a gift from God.  God doesn’t want us to forget that!  Isn’t it easy in life to want to take credit for all that we have?  To say that we earned it or that we deserve it?  But, here is the thing…you didn’t earn or deserve anything!  God has blessed you!

Let us pray…Gracious God, we like to take credit for all that we have.  Help us to remember that everything belongs to you!  Only you are to be given the glory for all of our blessings and the gifts that you have given to us.  Thank you Lord for all that we have.  Amen.