What does it take to get a "big" blessing from God?

Usually when people ask me the question, "What does it take to get a blessing from God?"They are really asking, "What does it take to get a big blessing from God?" God's grace is different from God's blessings.  God's blessings are imparted unto us as a way to strengthen us for the battles we are facing. The Hebrew word "blessed" conveys the idea of being strengthened, of our weakness being compensated for with God’s strength.   There are times we are not living right and yet we receive from God. That is His grace. His unmerited favor. There are times we deserved a punishment and yet we did not receive it. That is His Mercy.
But, a blessing  from  God is a gift that is empowerment to be able to do what is not within our natural capabilities!  A gift that strengthens and encourages us. A gift makes an enormous statement about the giver as well as the receiver.  When we give someone a gift we sign our name to it. The gift is an expression of who you are and your love for that person. Therefore, you want him and others to know that it came from you. Recently, a person told me that he loved God, and he could not understand why God was not blessing him with what he wanted. He believes that God does not care about him, because he has not gotten what he needed from God. He took no pleasure in the things of God. He was more attracted to licentious living than godly living. Yet he wants God to bless his life in spite of how he lives, what he does or say. Truthfully, think about what you are asking God to bless, approve, and put His Name on.  You want Him to let you produce or  live a lustful, provocative, sinful life and  put His name on it by blessing you in spite of the way you are living. That is not going to happen, because it goes against the Character of God. That would be the same as asking God to keep blessing  (strengthening) you to destroy your life or someone else life. 

Deuteronomy 28:1-14 (NKJV)  gives us a list of big blessings that are giving when we observe carefully all of God's commandments.  "Now it shall come to pass, if you diligently obey the voice of the Lord your God, to observe carefully all His commandments which I command you today, that the Lord your God will set you high above all nations of the earth. And all these blessings shall come upon you and overtake you, because you obey the voice of the Lord your God:  “Blessed shall you be in the city, and blessed shall you be in the country.......Blessed shall you be when you come in, and blessed shall you be when you go out. The Lord will cause your enemies who rise against you to be defeated before your face; they shall come out against you one way and flee before you seven ways.

Wow! That is fantastic! Now, read closely. It is an "if" statement. It is conditional, "if you diligently obey". Grace and mercy is unconditional love from God, but these wonderful amazing big gifts are based on our relationship and obedience to God. Jesus states in Matthew 5 (Beatitudes) that you are blessed based on your actions and your heart for God.  Remember, "Blessed are the pure in heart."

But then, Deuteronomy 28:58-59 (NLT) states, " If you refuse to obey all the words of instruction that are written in this book, and if you do not fear the glorious and awesome name of the LORD your God, the LORD will overwhelm you and your children indescribable plaques!" Yikes!  Thank God for Romans 5:6, "When we were utterly helpless, Christ came at just the right time and died for us sinners." That is His amazing Grace! The minute I ask God to forgive me for all my sins,  I position myself into a place of obedience and forgiveness. I get a chance again to diligently obey the voice of the LORD our God, and receive all the blessings (big or small) that He has for me!

My Prayer for you: "Lord, we put our hope in you. Please forgive us for all of our sins. Give us the strength to leave anything or situation that does not glorify you in our life. May we become accustomed to walk in the way of your commandments, and to cling to your precepts. Let us not walk into sin or transgression and iniquity. Lead us not into temptation or disgrace; Let not the impulse toward evil rule over us; keep us far from evil men and worthless companions; and help us cling to the impulse toward good and to good deeds. Bend our will to Yours. Give us this day and every day grace, favor, blessings, and mercy in your sight and in the sight of all people, and bestow upon us Your loving kindness. Please set our feet on the Solid rock, Jesus Christ that when difficult times come we will not lose our strength and be shaken by the Enemy.  In His precious Name,  I pray, Amen!"

With much Love!
Pastor Patricia 
 


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