Text: Philippians 2:25-28
Memory verse:
“Through the Lord’s mercies we are not consumed, Because His compassions fail not.”
‭‭Lamentations‬ ‭3‬:‭22‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

Sometimes, l wonder why some people always wait to be persuaded to praise God. Ingratitude is a serious sin before God. This pronouncement of God on people who do not acknowledge Him will tell you a little about the implications. “Because you did not serve the Lord your God with joy and gladness of heart, for the abundance of everything, therefore you shall serve your enemies, whom the Lord will send against you, in hunger, in thirst, in nakedness, and in need of everything; and He will put a yoke of iron on your neck until He has destroyed you.”
‭‭(Deut‬ ‭28‬:‭47‬-‭48‬)‬‬
Did you see it? “Because you did not serve the Lord your God with joy and gladness of heart, for the abundance of everything..”
As the year is running to an end, sit back and consider the benefits you have received this year, and it will surprise you what God has done. Let me remind you of a few reasons why you should rejoice before the Lord and give Him quality praise from now. Firstly, the fact that you are alive is a reason. Do you know that not many who said, “Happy new year” at the beginning are alive today? You are not alive because you are better than them but just because of His mercy on you. This is what the scripture says, “For He says to Moses, “I will have mercy on whomever I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whomever I will have compassion.”
‭‭(Rom‬ ‭9‬:‭15‬).‬‬ According to our memory text, God’s mercy has kept you till now. Secondly, even if you are not thinking of yourself, think of how God kept you from sorrow by showing mercy on your loved ones. If they had been afflicted, you would have been affected. Paul was thankful for the healing and restoration of Epaphroditus, his fellow brother in the ministry. “For indeed he was sick almost unto death; but God had mercy on him, and not only on him but on me also, lest I should have sorrow upon sorrow.” ‭‭(Philip‬ ‭2‬:‭27).‬‬
Friends, like David, sit down today to consciously remember some of the benefits you have enjoyed this year and then burst forth in singing and praise to the Lord.

Praise points (Think deeply today, meditate on the lyrics of this hymn, sing it, and then raise your own praise points)
1. 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.
* Refrain:Count your blessings, name them one by one, Count your blessings, and see what God has done!
Count your blessings, name them one by one,
*Count your many blessings, see what God has done.
[*And it will surprise you what the Lord has done.]
2. 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.
3. 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 [*wealth can never buy]
Your reward in heaven, nor your home on high.
4. So, amid the conflict, whether great or small,
Do not be discouraged, God is overall;
Count your many blessings, Angels will attend,
Help and comfort give you to your journey’s end.

Today’s declarations
1. I am alive today because God showed me great mercy.
2. God’s mercy over my family and my loved ones has kept me from sorrow in the year 2023.