March 1, 2026

Every year, someone in our family picks the verse of the year. I chose this year’s verse.

“O taste and see that Yahweh is good; How blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him!”
‭‭Psalm‬ ‭34‬:‭8‬ ‭LSB‬‬

Many years ago, before taking sermon notes, one of my blessing would watch me as I doodled many hearts on my paper. She leaned over one Sunday and said, “Mama, are you counting your blessings?” And wow, what a good idea she had! I showed her that, thanks to her, I was going to think of a blessing for each heart. This was a good way to remember we have so many blessings too numerous to count. Later, I would get a tattoo that says blessed with a heart. She was so happy to see this tattoo was because of her wonderful idea to “count our blessings”.

David expresses gratitude to God for His protection and emphasizes the significance of not merely reading or hearing about the Lord’s blessings but actively experiencing His goodness firsthand. I have witnessed God’s abundant blessings in my life, far beyond what I could have ever imagined. This brings to mind the times when we pray for specific requests and subsequently see God’s responses; in such moments, we are richly blessed as active participants in those prayers. Conversely, if we commit to praying for someone but neglect to do so, we miss out on the blessings that would have arisen from our faithful intercession. Therefore, when someone requests prayer, it is vital to pray for them immediately, ensuring we do not forget to lift them up.

I will also put alarms on my clock to remind me to pray for people. This was not my idea, so I cannot take credit but it is such a good idea. For instance, if someone has a doctor appointment, you can set your alarm for that day and time. This helps for us to remember to stop and pray for that person and even check up on them to see how they are. Another friend told me that she sets her alarm to pray specifically for her blessings by name. So whatever day they were born, that is what she sets her alarm at for every month. So I adopted that idea and, for example when it’s 10:10am, every day, I will take a moment to pray for my husband as his birthday is October 10th. I find it is also helpful to ask when that alarm goes off, “how can I pray for you?” This becomes such a good habit, that it’s easy to ask first thing in the morning or any time of day really.

When we have experienced God’s goodness throughout our lives, we will become confident He will never fail us because He has always been faithful, even when we are not. We are able to trust Him to be our refuge and can rest in that. What a beautiful, confident, and peaceful way to live. When the world seems like it is coming undone, we don’t have to because we are secure in knowing Him and that He will always have our back.

We can find profound contentment in resting in Him, even amid chaos. When others observe our distinct response compared to the world’s reactions, many may become curious about the source of our joy, even during difficult times. As God’s Word indicates, we will be a pleasing aroma to some, while to others, we may be perceived as stinky. 

“But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumphal procession in Christ, and manifests through us the aroma of the knowledge of Him in every place.” For we are a fragrance of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing; to the one an aroma from death to death, to the other an aroma from life to life. And who is sufficient for these things?”
‭‭2 Corinthians‬ ‭2‬:‭14‬-‭16‬ ‭LSB‬‬

So, have you tasted and seen that the Lord is good? Have you experienced countless blessings, even when there are things going on around you that seem so unpredictable and unstable? You, too, can experience the joy that only the unshakeable foundation of Jesus Christ, son of God, can bring to your life.

If you do not yet have a personal relationship with the Lord, I urge you not to delay in committing your life to Him. We cannot predict what tomorrow holds; only God knows the number of our days. Acknowledging that you have sinned and cannot save yourself is the first step. Many individuals I have spoken with believe that their good deeds must outweigh their wrongdoings, hoping that Jesus will grant them access to heaven. This mindset leads to a burdensome existence, marked by uncertainty and the continual struggle to be “good enough.”

Jesus, the Son of God, came to die for our sins. His perfection enabled Him to make that ultimate sacrifice on the cross for you and me. When He accomplished this, the curtain in the temple was torn in two, symbolizing that we no longer need to offer sacrifices, through a priest, for our sins. We no longer require an intermediary between Christ Jesus and ourselves. Once we surrender our lives to Him, we gain 24/7 access to God, as the Holy Spirit resides within us.

Blessings,
Jennifer