Blessing – Page 2 – Praying Pint

24.x. “On him we have set our hope that he will deliver us again.”

2 Corintihians 1:8 For we do not want you to be unaware, brothers, of the affliction we experienced in Asia. For we were so utterly burdened beyond our strength that we despaired of life itself. Indeed, we felt that we had received the sentence of death. But that was to make us rely not on ourselves but on God who raises the dead. He delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us. On him we have set our hope that he will deliver us again. You also must help us by prayer, so that many will give thanks on our behalf for the blessing granted us through the prayers of many.

Psalms 44:6-7   For not in my bow do I trust, nor can my sword save me.  But you have saved us from our foes and have put to shame those who hate us.

Proverbs 28:26    Whoever trusts in his own mind is a fool, but he who walks in wisdom will be delivered.

Jeremiah 9:23-24     Thus says the LORD: “Let not the wise man boast in his wisdom, let not the mighty man boast in his might, let not the rich man boast in his riches,  but let him who boasts boast in this, that he understands and knows me, that I am the LORD who practices steadfast love, justice, and righteousness in the earth. For in these things I delight, declares the LORD.”

Jeremiah 17:5-7    Thus says the LORD: “Cursed is the man who trusts in man and makes flesh his strength, whose heart turns away from the LORD.  He is like a shrub in the desert, and shall not see any good come. He shall dwell in the parched places of the wilderness, in an uninhabited salt land.  “Blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD, whose trust is the LORD.

Whatever the problem was, it was bad. Because of this problem, Paul lived with the awareness that he might die at any time. He was able to able to learn from this and say – “not to rely on ourselves but on God”. He has delivered us, He is delivering us, and He will deliver us – past, present, future. David, though he used bow and sword, said that he did not trust in them even thought there was victory – It was all of God and not by their might, talent, power, or strength that victory was gained.

It is when we seek deliverance and rely on self, how is God to help? Life is marked by events, and our life is lived either in anticipation of those events (looking to the future) or in reflection upon them (looking to the past). In either situation, stress is a possibility. We may be concerned about what is coming, or we may be exhausted by what has happened. Whenever life drains you of strength, let God be your source for refreshment (Psalm 23:1-3). Make prayer your first choice when it comes to unburdening your soul of what this world has done, is doing, and will do that adversely affects you. God is not limited and will deliver you. His strength, His power, His might, His timing.

19.h. “If I must boast, I will boast of the things that show my weakness.”

Romans 4:1 What then shall we say was gained by Abraham, our forefather according to the flesh? For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not before God. For what does the Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness.” Now to the one who works, his wages are not counted as a gift but as his due. And to the one who does not work but believes in him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is counted as righteousness, just as David also speaks of the blessing of the one to whom God counts righteousness apart from works: “Blessed are those whose lawless deeds are forgiven, and whose sins are covered; blessed is the man against whom the Lord will not count his sin.”

Ephesians 2:9  not a result of works, so that no one may boast.

Jeremiah 9:23-24   Thus says the LORD: “Let not the wise man boast in his wisdom, let not the mighty man boast in his might, let not the rich man boast in his riches,  but let him who boasts boast in this, that he understands and knows me, that I am the LORD who practices steadfast love, justice, and righteousness in the earth. For in these things I delight, declares the LORD.”

2 Corinthians 11:30   If I must boast, I will boast of the things that show my weakness.

Galatians 6:14    But far be it from me to boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.

This boasting is nothing because before God, every pretense is stripped away and it is evident that no one can really be justified by works. Boasting can take many forms. It can be voiced; I am a good or great person, I do good or great things, I speak good or great things, I understand and have great wisdom, I am strong, I am powerful, I am an example to be followed, I am a light to be followed, I am a great giver, I am a great speaker, etc…….. It can also be silent and these same boasts can be spoken. They are spoken within our minds directly to our hearts. These boasts are silent killers of our souls. When boasting is verbal at least it can be discussed in the context of God’s holiness and righteousness. It can be challenged by the hearer. It can be debated and rooted out for what it is. It can be rebuked by the hearer. However, silent boasting within our minds goes unchallenged and, if allowed to fester, will soon lead to self-reliance and self-worth. This silent killer has and continues to lead many people directly to hell without them even knowing their unholy sickness of certain condemnation to hell and eternal punishment. They have judged themselves worthy of salvation by the acts they proudly boast to themselves within their mind. They do not judge in light of God’s Word or His holiness, or his righteousness. They are convinced that the world’s view of their acts justifies their stance before God. This lie has blinded them to the need for Jesus Christ. This lie has deafened their ears to the Word of God. It is in this blindness and deafness they internally boast of their goodness and good works. God’s Word is clear; “None is righteous, no, not one; no one understands; no one seeks for God. All have turned aside; together they have become worthless; no one does good, not even one.” “Their throat is an open grave; they use their tongues to deceive.” “The venom of asps is under their lips.” “Their mouth is full of curses and bitterness.” “Their feet are swift to shed blood; in their paths are ruin and misery, and the way of peace they have not known.” “There is no fear of God before their eyes.”

“for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith.”

There is an urgent shout to the souls of man to reject self-reliance and to cling to, rely on, and trust in Jesus Christ alone.

16.b. “To the thirsty I will give from the spring of the water of life without payment.”

John 7:37 On the last day of the feast, the great day, Jesus stood up and cried out, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.’” Now this he said about the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were to receive, for as yet the Spirit had not been given, because Jesus was not yet glorified.

Psalms 143:6     I stretch out my hands to you; my soul thirsts for you like a parched land.

Psalms 63:1   O God, you are my God; earnestly I seek you; my soul thirsts for you; my flesh faints for you, as in a dry and weary land where there is no water.

Isaiah 12:3     With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation.

Isaiah 44:3     For I will pour water on the thirsty land, and streams on the dry ground; I will pour my Spirit upon your offspring, and my blessing on your descendants.

Amos 8:11-13    “Behold, the days are coming,” declares the Lord GOD, “when I will send a famine on the land— not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the LORD.

Revelation 21:6    And he said to me, “It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. To the thirsty I will give from the spring of the water of life without payment.

The celebration of the Feast of Tabernacles emphasized how God provided water to Israel in the wilderness on their way to Canaan. Jesus boldly called people to Himself to drink and satisfy their deepest thirst, their spiritual thirst. The invitation was broad because it said, if anyone. Intelligence, race, class, nationality, or political party don’t limit it. The invitation was narrow because it said, if anyone thirsts. One must see their need. Thirst is not anything in itself; it is a lack of something. It is an emptiness, a crying need. Jesus explained what He meant by the metaphor of drinking. To come to Jesus and to drink was essentially to put one’s faith into Him; to trust in, rely on, and cling to Jesus for both time and eternity. Jesus did not only speak of something coming into a person, but something flowing out of them as well. It was not only a blessing received, but also becoming a source of blessing to others. This outflowing life and abundance comes in and through the presence of the Spirit in the life of the believer. This speaks of an experience that belongs to those believing in Him. The nature of that experience may differ among believers, but there is some aspect of it that is promised to all who will receive it by faith.

13.q. “He gives showers of rain to all people”

Zachariah 10:1 Ask the Lord for rain in the springtime; it is the Lord who sends the thunderstorms. He gives showers of rain to all people, and plants of the field to everyone.

Psalms 65:9    You visit the earth and water it; you greatly enrich it; the river of God is full of water; you provide their grain, for so you have prepared it.

Ezekiel 34:26     And I will make them and the places all around my hill a blessing, and I will send down the showers in their season; they shall be showers of blessing.

Job 36:27  For he draws up the drops of water; they distill his mist in rain,  which the skies pour down and drop on mankind abundantly.  Can anyone understand the spreading of the clouds, the thunderings of his pavilion?  Behold, he scatters his lightning about him and covers the roots of the sea.  For by these he judges peoples; he gives food in abundance.

How often do we take rain as a given act of nature? It is God who supplies it. It is in God’s timing for His glory and honor, but how often do we thank Him for it? This blessing of rain we take for granted is an opportunity each and every time to thank God. How many times do we acknowledge the routine things in life as being from and provided by God? How many times have you heard “boy we sure need some rain”? Shouldn’t it rather be said, “God please send us rain”? But we seem to think rain is an uncontrollable act of nature and God is not in control of it. He sends the rain, and as well, He withholds it. Both are for His plans and purposes. By faith, we trust God for forgiveness, redemption, and salvation. This mysterious act of grace, mercy, and love toward us is so far above our ability to understand that we can only believe and trust in God. Like the early and late rains that are considered by many an act of nature and deny God His glory and honor for it, so are there many who deny the Gospel of Jesus Christ. They believe God is not in control of the very “nature” He created. They believe either that God does not exist or that He is not in control of their eternal destiny. There is nothing created in heaven or earth that God is not in control of. Just as He sends showers of rain and man can deny or believe it is of God so it is when He sent His Son. We can either believe and thank, honor, and glorify Jesus Christ for His gift of salvation or deny it. The only difference is to deny God sends the rain has no eternal consequences but to deny that He sent His Son to forgive and redeem has eternal “forever” consequences. “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God.

9.h. “But they did not hear or pay attention to me, declares the LORD.”

Joel 2:10 Return to the Lord “Yet even now,” declares the Lord, “return to me with all your heart, with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning; and rend your hearts and not your garments.” Return to the Lord your God, for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love; and he relents over disaster. Who knows whether he will not turn and relent, and leave a blessing behind him, a grain offering and a drink offering for the Lord your God?

Deuteronomy 4:29-30     But from there you will seek the LORD your God and you will find him, if you search after him with all your heart and with all your soul.  When you are in tribulation, and all these things come upon you in the latter days, you will return to the LORD your God and obey his voice.

Jeremiah 4:1    “If you return, O Israel, declares the LORD, to me you should return. If you remove your detestable things from my presence, and do not waver,

Jeremiah 29:12-13   Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will hear you.  You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart.

2 Chronicles 7:13-14    When I shut up the heavens so that there is no rain, or command the locust to devour the land, or send pestilence among my people,  if my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land.

Zechariah 1:3-4    Therefore say to them, Thus declares the LORD of hosts: Return to me, says the LORD of hosts, and I will return to you, says the LORD of hosts.  Do not be like your fathers, to whom the former prophets cried out, ‘Thus says the LORD of hosts, Return from your evil ways and from your evil deeds.’ But they did not hear or pay attention to me, declares the LORD.

Acts 26:20     but declared first to those in Damascus, then in Jerusalem and throughout all the region of Judea, and also to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, performing deeds in keeping with their repentance.

With all that is going on in the whole world today, is there any doubt that it is by the hand of God? Some may say it is just a fluke in nature and we should expect things like this to happen given the ease in which travel has become. Two views. One seeing God as the author and the other denying God is the author. The one who sees this as being at the hand of God will look inward to self and outward to culture and seek understanding, wisdom, repentance, and return to God more wholeheartedly. They know their security is in Him but more than that, they have an inner assurance that is soul deep. Belief in Jesus Christ will allow us to grab hold of the security as a means of facing trials but they lack the inner assurance that only comes when one comes out the other side of the trial. All trials should give us pause and push us to reflect on our lives. Are we keeping our focus on Jesus Christ, living for Him, seeking to follow, trust and obey Him? Not a single one of us can say there is not some area within our lives that we keep to ourselves and don’t give it over to Jesus Christ. Through trials, we can seek God’s leading and desire Him to show us what we have not yet surrendered to Him and His awesome power and control. We can return to Him more fully and find rest for our surrendered souls. It is in His hands we will find rest, assurance, hope, and purpose now and forever.

6.z. “Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!”

Revelation 7:9 After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands, and crying out with a loud voice, “Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!” And all the angels were standing around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures, and they fell on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, saying, “Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honor and power and might be to our God forever and ever! Amen.”

Then one of the elders addressed me, saying, “Who are these, clothed in white robes, and from where have they come?” I said to him, “Sir, you know.” And he said to me, “These are the ones coming out of the great tribulation. They have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.

“Therefore they are before the throne of God, and serve him day and night in his temple; and he who sits on the throne will shelter them with his presence. They shall hunger no more, neither thirst anymore; the sun shall not strike them, nor any scorching heat. For the Lamb in the midst of the throne will be their shepherd, and he will guide them to springs of living water, and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.”

During the Tribulation period when the church is gone and the seals are open and the anger and wrath of God are upon the earth, we see God in grace and mercy reaching out. He seals the 144,000 who are His witnesses and these who are clothed in white robes are those who have believed and been saved and died because of and during the tribulation period. “They have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.” I still have to wonder how many have died during this time without believing, and in so doing, sealed their eternal destiny in hell. Isn’t it the same today? Rejection of Christ and finding their pleasure, satisfaction, and hope in things of this world instead of the Creator of it. Today, the Holy Spirit of God is still present. God’s Holy Spirit, to guide, direct, encourage open ears, open eyes, soften hearts and proclaim truth to our hearts is present. And even though His Spirit is present we still resist and close our eyes and ears, harden our hearts, and stiffen our necks. We resist His active presence in our lives and intentionally choose to follow what seems right in our own eyes. We neglect His Word and desire things of this world more than humbly serving, honoring, following, obeying, and trusting in Him. Notice how those who come through the tribulations and worship Him day and night. They serve Him. We do well to grow in His Word, and desire and seek to live, act, think and speak in ways that honor and glorify Him every moment of every day.

2.u. And he did what was right in the eyes of the Lord, yet not with a whole heart.

2 Chronicles 25:1 Amaziah was twenty-five years old when he began to reign, and he reigned twenty-nine years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Jehoaddan of Jerusalem. And he did what was right in the eyes of the Lord, yet not with a whole heart. And as soon as the royal power was firmly his, he killed his servants who had struck down the king his father. But he did not put their children to death, according to what is written in the Law, in the Book of Moses, where the Lord commanded, “Fathers shall not die because of their children, nor children die because of their fathers, but each one shall die for his own sin.” Then Amaziah assembled the men of Judah and set them by fathers’ houses under commanders of thousands and of hundreds for all Judah and Benjamin. He mustered those twenty years old and upward, and found that they were 300,000 choice men, fit for war, able to handle spear and shield. He hired also 100,000 mighty men of valor from Israel for 100 talents of silver. But a man of God came to him and said, “O king, do not let the army of Israel go with you, for the Lord is not with Israel, with all these Ephraimites. But go, act, be strong for the battle. Why should you suppose that God will cast you down before the enemy? For God has power to help or to cast down.” And Amaziah said to the man of God, “But what shall we do about the hundred talents that I have given to the army of Israel?” The man of God answered, “The Lord is able to give you much more than this.” Then Amaziah discharged the army that had come to him from Ephraim to go home again. And they became very angry with Judah and returned home in fierce anger. But Amaziah took courage and led out his people and went to the Valley of Salt and struck down 10,000 men of Seir. The men of Judah captured another 10,000 alive and took them to the top of a rock and threw them down from the top of the rock, and they were all dashed to pieces.

Psalms 33:16-20    The king is not saved by his great army; a warrior is not delivered by his great strength.  The war horse is a false hope for salvation, and by its great might it cannot rescue.  Behold, the eye of the LORD is on those who fear him, on those who hope in his steadfast love,  that he may deliver their soul from death and keep them alive in famine.  Our soul waits for the LORD; he is our help and our shield.

Job 5:18    For he wounds, but he binds up; he shatters, but his hands heal.

Psalms 20:7     Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the LORD our God.

Proverbs 10:22     The blessing of the LORD makes rich, and he adds no sorrow with it.

Philippians 4:19     And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.

Amaziah did right in the eyes of the Lord but not with his whole heart. I wonder how we would live now if we knew this is what the Holy Spirit would inspire people to write about us. Would we commit to living differently or be content with knowing we were not giving to God or serving God with all our heart, mind, and soul? Would we confess it once we became aware of our divided heart? Would we turn away from how we think and act? Would we make an intentional choice and commitment with our whole heart, mind, and soul? Would we listen? Would we act? Would people see a change? Would His Word be all-important to us? Would we hunger and thirst for it? Would our days seem dark and without purpose without it? Would our ears be tuned to hearing His leading? Would our faith, trust, and reliance be different? Would our peace, joy, and love be visible?

We can pretend quite well, can’t we? We tell ourselves that we are good enough and we serve God enough and we give Him enough of our time and we do enough right things to be ok. We allow self to rule our heart in such a way that we are never able to find the peace and joy that comes from an intentional choice to yield our whole heart, mind, and soul.

It is very easy to live pretending you are giving it your all, just neglect His word and convince yourself that attending church is giving it your all. We can all yield more, die to self more, listen, follow, and obey more but that would mean we give all our heart, mind, and soul to humbly serving, honoring, following, trusting, obeying, and relying on God every moment of every day.

73. And the ears of all the people were attentive to the Book of the Law.

Joshua 8:34 And afterward he read all the words of the law, the blessing and the curse, according to all that is written in the Book of the Law. There was not a word of all that Moses commanded that Joshua did not read before all the assembly of Israel, and the women, and the little ones, and the sojourners who lived among them.

Deuteronomy 31:10-12    And Moses commanded them, “At the end of every seven years, at the set time in the year of release, at the Feast of Booths,  when all Israel comes to appear before the LORD your God at the place that he will choose, you shall read this law before all Israel in their hearing.  Assemble the people, men, women, and little ones, and the sojourner within your towns, that they may hear and learn to fear the LORD your God, and be careful to do all the words of this law,

Nehemiah 8:2-3     So Ezra the priest brought the Law before the assembly, both men and women and all who could understand what they heard, on the first day of the seventh month.  And he read from it facing the square before the Water Gate from early morning until midday, in the presence of the men and the women and those who could understand. And the ears of all the people were attentive to the Book of the Law.

Nehemiah 9:3    And they stood up in their place and read from the Book of the Law of the LORD their God for a quarter of the day; for another quarter of it they made confession and worshiped the LORD their God.

Deuteronomy 30:15-20     “See, I have set before you today life and good, death and evil.  If you obey the commandments of the LORD your God that I command you today, by loving the LORD your God, by walking in his ways, and by keeping his commandments and his statutes and his rules, then you shall live and multiply, and the LORD your God will bless you in the land that you are entering to take possession of it.  But if your heart turns away, and you will not hear, but are drawn away to worship other gods and serve them,  I declare to you today, that you shall surely perish. You shall not live long in the land that you are going over the Jordan to enter and possess.  I call heaven and earth to witness against you today, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and curse. Therefore choose life, that you and your offspring may live,  loving the LORD your God, obeying his voice and holding fast to him, for he is your life and length of days, that you may dwell in the land that the LORD swore to your fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give them.”

There was times past when God’s word was read to an entire nation, a time spent listening to His word and time spent in confession and time spent in worship. It is hard for us to imagine what it would be like to not have God’s written word immediately available and easily accessible. Wh don’t have to wait until there is a special day for His word to be read to us, we can read it at anytime we choose. Is it possible that His word is so readily available that we don’t find the need to spend time in it every day? Is it possible that because it is so accessible that we just tuck it away until we think we need it?

God’s word is not to be seen or used as a remedy quick fix book for when we come to hard times or sickness, or troubles, or trials. God’s word is to be food for every moment of every day. His word is to be so needed that it is consumed like the very air we need and breath. If His word is not active in your life is it possible that it is void from your choice of needing it, relying on it, clinging to it, wanting it??????

Choose to spend time in His word, neglecting it will always lead to your heart, mind and soul drifting away from Him.

61. Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might.

Deuteronomy 31:6 Be strong and courageous. Do not fear or be in dread of them, for it is the Lord your God who goes with you. He will not leave you or forsake you.”

Joshua 1:6-7     Only be strong and very courageous, being careful to do according to all the law that Moses my servant commanded you. Do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may have good success wherever you go.

1 Chronicles 28:10     Be careful now, for the LORD has chosen you to build a house for the sanctuary; be strong and do it.”

Ephesians 6:10    Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might.

2 Chronicles 32:7    “Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or dismayed before the king of Assyria and all the horde that is with him, for there are more with us than with him.

1 Corinthians 16:13    Be watchful, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong.

Psalms 27:14    Wait for the LORD; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the LORD!

Zechariah 8:13    And as you have been a byword of cursing among the nations, O house of Judah and house of Israel, so will I save you, and you shall be a blessing. Fear not, but let your hands be strong.”

Isaiah 43:1-5    But now thus says the LORD, he who created you, O Jacob, he who formed you, O Israel: “Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine.  When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you.

Isaiah 51:12    “I, I am he who comforts you; who are you that you are afraid of man who dies, of the son of man who is made like grass,

Psalms 27:1   The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The LORD is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?

Hebrews 13:5    Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.”

Isaiah 41:13-17    For I, the LORD your God, hold your right hand; it is I who say to you, “Fear not, I am the one who helps you.”

“Be strong and courageous and do it. Do not be afraid and do not be dismayed, for the LORD God, even my God is with you. He will not leave you or forsake you,” It is easy to think we are strong when there is nothing to challenge our strength. It is easy to stand firm when there is no fire, storms, chaos, confusion, sickness, loneliness, wrongly thought of, slandered, rumored about, and abandoned by friends and family. Yet these types of events find a way into each of our lives at some point. There are many ways we can react to these. We can be afraid, confused, anxious, worried, helpless, defeated, exhausted, lonely, restless, etc….. This is what should be expected if there is no sovereign God that loves you, has plans and purposes for you, and is watching over you.

Be strong. Be courageous. Do not be afraid. Do not worry. God is with you. He will not leave you. He will not forsake you. He has called you by name. You are His chosen possession. He will comfort you.

Have faith, rely on, cling to, and trust in God who is mighty, awesome, steadfast in love, powerful beyond all measure, and can do more than we ask and much more than we can imagine.

49. I am setting before you today a blessing and a curse

Deuteronomy 11:22 For if you will be careful to do all this commandment that I command you to do, loving the Lord your God, walking in all his ways, and holding fast to him, then the Lord will drive out all these nations before you, and you will dispossess nations greater and mightier than you. Every place on which the sole of your foot treads shall be yours. Your territory shall be from the wilderness to the Lebanon and from the River, the river Euphrates, to the western sea. No one shall be able to stand against you. The Lord your God will lay the fear of you and the dread of you on all the land that you shall tread, as he promised you. “See, I am setting before you today a blessing and a curse: the blessing, if you obey the commandments of the Lord your God, which I command you today, and the curse, if you do not obey the commandments of the Lord your God, but turn aside from the way that I am commanding you today, to go after other gods that you have not known.

Deuteronomy 30:20    loving the LORD your God, obeying his voice and holding fast to him, for he is your life and length of days,

Isaiah 3:10    Tell the righteous that it shall be well with them, for they shall eat the fruit of their deeds.

Luke 11:28     But he said, “Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and keep it!”

John 13:17    If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them.

A blessing and a curse. Who would intentionally choose a curse? Who would say I want to have no peace, no satisfaction, no protection, no hope, no purpose, no future, no meaning, no joy, no rest ……??? I have to think the number who would say this is small. But still, this is how they walk through life. If they did not intentionally choose it how does it come to pass?

The curse is the outcome when the blessing is not sought. Blessings come when there is an intentional choice and continual pursuit to serve, honor, follow and obey God. Blessings come when we choose to trust in, cling to, and rely on God. When things look like there is no way out we can choose to go it alone or we can place it in God’s hands and trust Him completely.

As I write this I am so convicted on how I let certain things worry me, cause doubt, affect my outlook…..God does not change and is able to do more than I can imagine. So why do I walk in a time of testing and allow worry, doubt, and anxiousness to rule. Could it be that I am choosing the curse of them over the blessings of God? Faith, Trust, Hope are all rooted in God through Jesus Christ and if they are intentionally desired, sought after, and cherished the voids we find created by worry, doubt, and anxiousness have no place to take rood even though these seeds may have been planted by the circumstance we face. Faith, trust, hope are blessings from God through Jesus Christ.