Tag Archives: Blessings

The Favorite Son

Photo by Xavier Mouton Photographie on Unsplash

Bible Passages

Read Genesis 37-50.

Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time

1 Peter 5:6 (NASB1995)

Devotion

Before you were born, God set a special path, designed just for you and only you. He created you to be the perfect person for that path. Only you can travel your special path. If you stay on that path, it will be easy and fun (mostly). Along the way, He will hold your hand. He will carry you through the difficult parts, the challenges, the tests.

All you need do is follow where He leads you. He will provide almost everything you need to succeed. There is only one thing missing: you. God gave us free will, the ability to choose for ourselves what we do with our lives. He wants you to give yourself, fully and completely, to Him. When you do this, the results will amaze you!

The Bible is full of examples of people who went through hard times and came out with more blessings than they ever imagined. Joseph, for example, shows us how to follow God’s path. He shows us how to be godly, happy, and blessed. Even when he fell into darkness, God was with him. We remember him because he held tightly to God’s hand through the bad times and the good times.

We remember him and so many others because we love to hear their stories over and over. Their stories put our own troubles into perspective, and give us hope when we’re going through dark times. They remind us that God loves to take us out of our lowest moments, and bring us to our highest moments. Just like the dark nights make us appreciate the sunrise, our dark moments make us appreciate God’s blessings with praise and gratitude.

Joseph was on top of the world as a child. His family was prosperous. He lacked for nothing. His father favored him above all his other children. God blessed him with dreams, showing him that one day he would be in a situation where his brothers would bow to him. Confused and excited, he shared his dreams with his brothers, who already thought he was too big for his breeches. Hearing they would kowtow to him, it was the last straw for his jealous siblings.

Soon after, he was ambushed by his own brothers and sold into slavery, literally thrown away. Joseph was steadfast in his love of God, however, and he continued to be true to himself. He was kind to others. He held to his beliefs and worshiped God. He developed leadership skills. He remained trustworthy and honest, and loved God. God continued to bless Joseph and those around him, bringing them prosperity. God also continued giving him dreams, which he shared with others.

Through a series of events in which Joseph was falsely accused of misdeeds, he found himself in jail. While Joseph was in jail, the pharaoh had a dream. His advisors had no idea how to interpret this dream, but God told Joseph what the dream meant, and provided the opportunity for Joseph to witness to pharaoh. Joseph was immediately released from prison and installed as the second-in-command over Egypt, answering only to the pharaoh. Joseph was still enjoying the blessings of God, and Egypt prospered.

Meanwhile, Joseph’s family fell on hard times. A drought plagued the land, and his brothers were going hungry. Joseph’s father sent his brothers to beg for the mercy of the pharaoh, hoping he would share some food with them. They were presented to Joseph to plead their case. They were bowing and groveling at his feet so much, they didn’t recognize him as their brother. After putting them through a couple of challenges designed to test their characters, Joseph revealed himself to them and granted their request. The story continues, but I will stop here. As predicted in his childhood dream, Joseph was lifted up into the exact position God planned for him.

Joseph endured all the hardships set before him, praising God all the while. Joseph’s faithfulness to God paid off. God’s plan for him was fulfilled. Joseph was set on high, blessed beyond his wildest dreams, and lived a full and happy life. He remains an example of what it means to hold tight to God.

Prayer Focus

People with big dreams.

Prayer

Our Great and Mighty Father on high, thank You for making me. Thank You for loving me. Thank you for your blessings and your trials. Thank you for giving me everything I have. Use me as a vessel of Thy great and everlasting love. Amen.

Final Thought

God pushes us to be better.

A Life of Privilege

Princess and castle

Bible Passages

Read Psalm 145:1-6.

4Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice! 5Let your gentle spirit be known to all men. The Lord is near.6Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

8Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things. 9The things you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you. – Philipians 4:4-9 (NASB1995)

Devotion

I grew up in a life of privilege. I am proud, looking back, of the childhood I had. At the time, I took it all for granted. As a child, however, I didn’t fully appreciate how rich we were. Many times, I resented our circumstances. I just didn’t understand. I truly believed we were dirt poor.

My father was a country preacher. His assignments were primarily small churches struggling to keep the lights on and the bills paid. Attendance was dwindling. There were times we were given chickens, eggs, fruits, vegetables, and other food items to supplement, and sometimes instead of, pay. My mother often worked, usually as a teacher or an office assistant, to help ends meet. At times, my dad took another job so we could afford to serve God through his ministry. I often received hand-me-downs from relatives, church members, and friends of my parents. I resented the used clothing and toys. I didn’t realize then how blessed we were, and hated having to leave my friends (and once even my dog) behind as we moved on to the next church in need.

I thought we were paupers. Through faith in God, we always had enough money and resources to get by. I didn’t really appreciate it then. Looking back as an adult, I realize what a privileged life I had. I got to see first-hand how God takes care of his flock, and not just my immediate family. I got to witness miracles and blessings on a regular basis. I realize now how full my childhood was.

My father had the gift of faith healing. I took for granted that people were healed by faith. My parents were true believers in God’s miracles, and made believers out of me and my brother. I don’t remember a time we didn’t believe in miracles.

Early in my father’s ministry, a man’s arm was caught in a thrasher and severely mangled. It was so bad, they were planning to remove the arm once he was stable enough for surgery. Through prayer, the man regained full use of that arm, without surgery! Another man, a dear friend of his, was healed of cancer the day before he was scheduled to go for surgery. He visited my dad and they prayed about it. Later that afternoon, he called my dad and told him about the sudden sense of peace he felt. My dad told him to make them do another test for the cancer before they operated. No sign of cancer was found! To my knowledge, that was my dad’s final act of faith healing before he left this earth.

I had a sideline look at so many aspects of the human condition: birth, death, sickness of the body and sickness of the spirit, youth and old age, righteous and those on the wrong side of the law. I don’t know a lot of details, but I know my father and mother both prayed with people over the phone. I also know of the many times these situations were later followed up by a private “Praise God!” session, usually at the parsonage, which often included a cake or pie of gratitude. Now that I could appreciate!

I had regular injections of the teachings in the Bible. My brother reminded me recently that our parents rewarded us for learning the Bible. How many parents do that?

Both parents sang beautifully. We sang often and gladly, mostly hymns, as we traveled. I sang my first church solo sometime around age 2. As a member of the choir, I had built-in voice lessons. Piano and organ lessons would wait until my teen years, provided by the church organist.

While in elementary school, my father was called to further his education. We prayed hard as a family about it many times, then loaded the car with the bare essentials and moved to Colorado, the location of the seminary. This was the first time I witnessed a true and giant leap of faith. As it turns out, my father’s letter of acceptance was sitting on the Registrar’s desk, having just been signed by him mere moments before my dad showed up in his office. The Registrar was shocked and amazed. My dad simply told him God told him when and where to go. As I begin my own leap of faith, I think about their example of great courage, conviction and faith. I hope to live up to their example and to honor them in this way.

Although we never had many earthly riches, we were blessed by God so many times. Every time I hear the song, “Count Your Blessings,” I ask God if He wants me stop what I’m doing to count all my blessings, or does He want me to actually accomplish something today toward building His kingdom on Earth. Counting all my blessings would take up every second of every minute of every day of my life, and beyond. [I think even God is getting tired of that old joke.]

As I look back on my life, I now appreciate all the blessings and privileges He has brought into my life and the lives around me. I had so many extraordinary chances to witness what faith can do. Is it any wonder I am always amazed to meet someone who does not believe in miracles? In blessings? In Holy guidance? In God?

If we Christians truly understand what it means to be privileged, and give thanks and praise and trust to God, we begin to realize what a life of privilege we are all living, AND we will continue to live a life of privilege on this earth, until we move into a magnificent palace in heaven.

Prayer Focus

Families

Prayer

God of heaven, the Earth, and the universe, please be with those who need you most. Let me be an agent of hope and blessings for someone. Help me realize how blessed I am. Thank you for showing me Your love and compassion. Please give me the chance to show Your love and compassion to others. Amen.

Final Thought

Through Christ, we live a life of privilege.

Thank God First

Bible Passages

Read Luke 17:11-19.

“I will give thanks to the Lord with all my heart; I will tell of all Your wonders.” – Psalm 9:1 (NASB1995)

Devotion

One of the first things we learn to say is, “Thank you.” One of the first things we forget to say is, “Thank you.” A simple two-word phrase, it goes a long way. Yet, we go about our day and forget to give thanks to the people whose thoughtful, little kindnesses make a difference in our day: the helpful store clerk, the smiling toll booth guard, the one who holds the door, or the random but needed hug, all deserve one word of encouragement and appreciation, “Thanks.”

Family is usually second among unthanked victims. Mom gets up early to make breakfast. Dad takes time to help with our homework. On that rare occasion when our siblings actually share their toys, their ice cream, or their secrets, we neglect to thank them.

The first victim is God. We don’t thank Him for allowing us to wake up today, for last night’s rest, the new day before us. We don’t sing His praises as we prepare for our day. We don’t thank Him for going out into the world with us. However, if we don’t start our day with God, we set ourselves up for something less than everything He wants for us for that day.

We need to start and end each day right, with praise and thanks to God. Try starting and ending your day with the Lord’s prayer, a joyful Psalm, a devotion like The Upper Room, or a Bible chapter. Smart devices have apps like YouVersion, in which you can request a specific or random Bible passage. Whatever you do to start your day with God, He will approve.

As His servants, talk to God first each morning. “Good morning, Lord. How may I serve You today? How can I be a blessing to someone today?” Then, listen. He might take a few minutes, a few hours, days. He does things on His schedule, not ours. Keep asking during the day. He will guide your heart. Small things will only be a brief tug. “Help that lady carry all that stuff.” “Wait here a minute.” “Drive home by the back roads.” Those things come quickly and are easy when you listen. Those are the small ways we honor God, not always knowing why or the result.

The big things, for me at least, often take more than one nudge. Sometimes, He has to work to get my attention. In times like that, He allows situations that seem dire at first glance. When I pray about it, He lets me know He wants my attention. When I finally hear Him, He opens the door He wants me to take. As I step through, I realize I am traveling the path He set for me. Things start turning around. The dire situation becomes an opportunity to glorify God. When I take His path, everything falls into place again. It doesn’t always happen immediately, but it does always happen.

That’s the most important time to thank the Lord, just as with the ten lepers. When He shows us His love or the next step in our journey, we need to praise Him, thank Him, and go out of our way to make sure what we do glorifies God in as many ways as we can. Let everyone know your success comes from God. Sing his praises with every breath. When we do, the joy is overwhelming and contagious!

Then, at the end of the day, make sure He is the last thing on your mind before you go to sleep. Give Him your concerns, thank Him for a great day and the blessings and challenges, and for granting the rest you need. When you do this, you will rest completely and worry-free. It might take some practice, as it has with me, and some nights will be harder to do this than others.

That’s okay with God. He knows we’re not perfect but He loves us anyway, and wraps us in His perfect love, then sets His angels to watch over us. As the saying goes, “Give it to God and go to sleep.”

Prayer Focus

Those who have forgotten to thank God, even in small things.

Prayer

Lord God our Father Almighty, thank You for nurturing us, guiding us, and helping us grow into the people You want us to be. Help us to remember to thank You in good times, in bad times, and in the in-between times. Remind us to give You the glory You deserve. Remind us to put your first and last in all things. Amen.

Final Thought

Start and end your day with God.

Gentle Nudges

Bible Passages

Read Matthew 25:36-41.

“For everything created by God is good, and nothing is to be rejected, provided it is received with thanksgiving.” – I Timothy 4:4 (NSRV)

Devotion

When my husband died, my widowed father, no longer able to live alone, came to live with me. When he was called Home, it left a big hole in my life.

One night, a week later, I went to the store. I passed a young woman and her small dog huddled in a corner. She tried to talk to me. God nudged me, but I kept walking. Upon leaving the store, she asked me to give her a ride. It was in the opposite direction, so I easily refused. God nudged me again. “Could you at least put me up for the night,” she asked. With a third nudge, I finally surrendered to God’s will, and this time I quickly agreed.

Once home, our dogs played together. Soon, my home was filled with laughter and joy. The next morning, it was difficult dropping her back into her world.

I may never know the impact I had on her life, but I will never forget the lesson I learned. Through gentle nudges, God asks us to take action. When we do, he often rewards us with unexpected blessings of love and happiness. Had I not listened to God’s gentle nudges, I would have missed out on the special blessing I needed at that time.

Prayer Focus

Human beings living without a permanent shelter.

Prayer

Dearest Heavenly Father, help me to heed your gentle nudges. Help me to hear the hearts of others. Teach me to generously give mercy and love to my fellow human beings. Amen.

Final Thought

God speaks to us through gentle nudges.