So what should we count when we count the Omer? The first thing we count are the days. We are counting the days between the Passover and Pentecost. In Old Testament times, the Jewish people received God’s Law fifty days after the Passover. Through the Ten Commandments given to Moses, the people received God’s Word.
Each day represents a spiritual journey toward receiving God’s Word. When you were younger, did you ever have an extended vacation that became a journey? Think in terms of Chevy Chase’s family heading toward Wally World. If you were like me, you began counting things way before the vacation actually started. How many days till we leave? How many books do I need to take with me? How much spending money will I need to have?
One the journey started, my father would have us count things to help us pass the time and to keep us from asking, “Are we there yet? How much longer?” We would often count Volkswagen Beetles or keep track of how many different license plates we saw. It was always a thrill to find either Alaska or Hawaii. When we count things, the journey seems to pass more quickly.
What Counts? God’s Fingerprints
Here are a couple of spiritual things you can count while you progress on your journey during the next seven days. First, count the number of times you notice the fingerprints of God upon your life. Perhaps you barely escaped becoming involved in an automobile accident, or you were recently amazed when you noticed the vastness of the universe when you were gazing at the stars.
One day this week, everything that I did on my computer was crawling at a snail’s pace. Seven times the computer crashed during the day, each requiring a lengthy re-boot. But at the end of the day, when things had to be done, the computer put together 52 solid minutes of work without a crash – its longest streak of the day. I don’t believe it was Bill Gates watching over me – do you?
What Counts? Your Offerings
Next, count the times and ways you give back to God this week. Of course, count the money you give at church or to the charity, but be more creative in your counting. When did you show an act of kindness when you didn’t have to? When did you forgive your pesky, bothersome neighbor – again? When did you show the grace of Jesus to someone, when the stronger temptation was to demonstrate a demonic display?
What Counts? Your Prayers
Finally, count the times you stop to pray. Do you pray each morning and before bed at night? Do you pause before meals or special occasions? Are your prayers always requests? When was the last time you paused just to say, “I love you, Lord”?
Try to give yourself an accurate “count” this week; not like how you count your score on the golf course. Don’t wait until the end of the day and try to look back. “Yeah, Bobby, I had a four on that hole.” Count as you go – and even count the mulligans that you flubbed.
Count them – name them one by one – and it might surprise you, what the Lord has done.