Holding Adjustments

I don't know if you've ever been to a chiropractor before. They make your back straight, at least that's the idea. Looking at my back on those x-ray sheets, it was very obvious that my back needed some attention. I could visibly see that my back was curving in ways that it shouldn't and my hips were in the wrong position causing one leg to appear shorter than the other. So, the Dr. gave me an adjusment to put my back in allignment.

How many times does God put us back in spiritual allignment and we just fall right back out of it because it seems more comfortable, more familiar. Last night I was going through a workbook and it was talking about gratitude and how we need to be thankful. As I was reading this, it occured to me that, while I had known this and even applied it at one time, I had completely forgot about it. There is power in counting your blessings and thanking God for what he has given. But I had let the lesson fall back as un-important because it is hard to be conciously thinking about your attitude. It takes work and perseverance. Just as my back likes to go right back to it's bad positioning, so I have a very difficult time applying the things I've learned about how to stay on track with God.

All that said, I'm writing a list of things to "check" when (notice I did not say "if"!:-) I get down:
1) How's the eating and sleeping? Are you drinking enough water? This will definitely affect mood.
2) Still spending time with God? Daily devotions of some sort?
3) If taking any medication for physical or emotional needs, are you still on track with those?
4) How's the attitude. Ok, so you don't have to be happy. But are you thankful for what you do have? And if you can't think of a single thing to be thankful for, lets start with something simple. Any kind of weather, rain or shine, cold or hot, is a gift from God. The sun warms things up, the rain nourishes the earth. Lightning cleans the air we breath, snow provides water for the earth. Clouds provide shade. So be thankful for the weather. Let's see, what else? How about food? do you have anything that you can eat to nourish your body? That is something to be thankful for. If you don't have food and can't buy it, I'm sure there is a place around that you can get either a free meal or some kind of food suplies from a food bank. God provides food. You can be thankful for that. How about water? Had a drink lately? If not, grab some water and as you drink some, try splashing a little on your face and thank God for it. Don't give me any excuses about not being able to get water. If yours is turned off, find a water fountain. Ok, keep going down the list. Have you seen a child smile recently? If not, go to the store and take a look. God has filled them with joy. And try this. Smile back at them. You might be surprised at the "conversation" you can have with a child through smiles.:-) Get the picture? There is ALWAYS something to be thankful for. And, eventually, you may be able to thank God for life itself. But if not, start with the simple things. Food, water, children, smiles, rain, sun, snow. You may find that you have people who care about you. It's time to give thanks again. Do you have a job? Wow, be thankful. Maybe you don't have a job. You can be thankful that God's in control. Be thankful that He's giving you an opportunity to get to know Him better. Keep a good attitude. If you need to write three pages (yes, three pages) of things to be thankful for. It's really hard to do sometimes. Believe me, I know. But it's worth it. And by the end, you might find that life's not so bad after all.

That's all I have for my list so far. This should help us "hold" our spiritual "adjustments." Feel free to comment and add things. Don't think I'm always happy, because I'm not. But God has asked us to be thankful.:-)

Well, today's song is not a new one, but it's worth reading through and definitely applies to the topic at hand. It is based on 1 Thessalonians 5:18.

Count your Blessings, by Johnson Oatman, Jr.

"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 [has] done.

CHORUS
Count your blessings, name them one by one,
Count your blessings, see what God [has] done!
Count your blessings, name them one by one,
Count your many blessings, see what God [has] done.

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 keep singing as the days go by.

...

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."