Most of us become blind to the blessings that surround us every day. I guess you could relate it to becoming nose blind. This is a condition in which a smell, good or bad, is so constant that it becomes normal and undetectable. This kind of blindness is dangerous for us as Christ-followers. We condition ourselves to believe that what we have is normal, and in extreme cases, think that we deserve those things.

Instead of walking in the dark, let’s keep our eyes open to what God has given us and make a difference in the world around us. Here are some things we can do every day.

Give Thanks!

Take time to thank God for the little things you enjoy. Consider simple things like the beauty of the world around you, the sound of water over stones in a stream, time spent over coffee with a friend, the investment of someone else in your life, or the unconditional love given by the dog sleeping next to you on the couch.

Be Humble!

Remember that we are just dust that God breathed life into. All we have comes from him. We did not choose the family, culture, or status we were born into. Humility leads to kindness, patience, peace, and many other fruits of the Spirit. Strive to see every person as someone better than you. Be the servant. Make Jesus your life model who, though being perfect, humbled himself to love, serve and die for the imperfect.

Be Generous!

God is blessing us. We need to be blessing others. Loving others as Jesus would involves sacrifice of self. Consider giving up a “want” today to meet the “need” of someone else. Remind yourself again that nothing you have is really yours. You are just the steward of it for a while. Invest what you have been given by God in ways that will bring him glory.

Live the Truth out loud!

We all want to have a positive, kingdom impact on the world around us. The best foundation for effecting change is a heart of gratitude. Let our thankfulness to God for his daily blessings move us to humility in good works and joy in suffering.

“You are the light of the world – like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden. No one lights a lamp and then puts it under a basket. Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand where it can give light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly father.” Jesus in Matthew 5:14-16 (LT)