Blessings

March 18th – 2 Corinthians 12:10

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2 Corinthians 12:10

Although we aren’t told specifically what Paul’s thorn was, we can relate to the suffering he endured. Because whether it be emotional, physical, or spiritual, each of us have our own thorns to bear. Thorns for which we have pleaded with God to remove. And sometimes He’ll do just that. But what happens when His answer is no? It’s then Paul tells us to rejoice for the blessing of our sufferings. For although the thorn may remain, God is at work strengthening the one under it. Often it’s at our lowest times when God can do His greatest work. Because our weakness is an opportunity for God to work through us and show His strength. And by surrendering all to God, relying on His might rather than our own, not only can we deepen our relationship with Him, we can find joy in difficult circumstances because they allow us to experience His power in a unique way.

 

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March 17th – James 1:2

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James 1:2

An Indian guru once said, “The stones of a river start out rough, but with the current continually bumping and polishing them, they end up being beautiful.” A perfect description of the Christian life. Each of us are as river stones. Rough and jagged around the edges, tossed and turned in the raging current of life. And although no one looks forward to the grating friction brought on by tribulations, we are to think of  troubles as a joyful blessing. Why? Because as James tells us, “the testing of your faith produces perseverance”. (James 1:3) Spiritual perseverance is never giving up no matter how hard our circumstance may be. It’s trusting that God is using our situation to grow our faith, and working all things together for our good. (Rom. 8:28) And what great joy there is in knowing that our Father does so in love, with the purpose of making us “perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.” (James 1:4)

 

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March 15th – 1 Peter 3:9

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1 Peter 3:9

I love the quote, “The best revenge you can give an enemy is by showing them true love.” When someone wrongs us our first instinct is to retaliate. But when we do, we become no better than the one who acted against us. And as satisfying as it may feel to exact vengeance, it never changes the heart of the the one who hurt us it only changes ours. As followers of Jesus, revenge isn’t an option. For we are called to pronounce blessings upon those who hurt us. Betrayed by even those He loved, Jesus had every reason to get even with those who scorned Him. Yet Christ chose love over vengeance. And we are to do the same. To break the cycle of retribution, replacing it with love and forgiveness. Doing so not only brings healing and reconciliation, but blessings from God for our obedience and faithfulness.

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March 12th – 2 Samuel 22:17

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2 Samuel 22:17

When we are drowning in troubled waters, we have the blessings of a mighty Lifeguard who will reach down and pull us out of the raging rapids. Because just like He did with David, God will provide and rescue us from all danger. And no matter how dire the situation may seem, with God’s help we can not only survive but overcome and experience victory in the end. For nothing formed against us is too powerful for the Lord. He is the One who saves, sustains, strengthens, and secures. Whether they be people, addictions, disease, or Satan himself, we all have enemies. Each day is filled with personal battles. But we never need face them alone. When we put our faith and trust in God, even the mightiest of foe cannot stand against His power. We can confidently cast all of our anxieties on the Lord because He cares for us and is committed to helping us win every war. (1 Peter 5:7)

 

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march 11th – Psalm 91:1

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Psalm 91:1

Growing up my brothers had a tree fort in the woods behind our house. It was their secret place where they and their friends could go as a refuge from the world. We too have a secret place. A fortress so secure, no evil can penetrate it. And that’s dwelling in the shadow of the Lord. For He is our perfect security and refuge. His faithfulness is an impenetrable wall and our shield against all enemies. And in His presence alone can we dwell in perfect safety. This beautiful blessing we have from God isn’t  because we are good and deserve it, but because He is. And from that goodness the Lord promises to answer every plea, every call, and every cry. He will never forsake nor abandon us. Nor will He fall short or fail to show up. The Lord loves us so much, He sends His angels to guard and protect us. And because of our love for Him, in times of trouble God will not only rescue us, but set us securely in a high place of honor.

 

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March 9th – Matthew 5:8

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Matthew 5:8

My grandmother had a little needlepoint plaque on her bathroom wall quoting Matthew 5:8. And even though I didn’t really understand what it meant to be pure of heart, I can remember wanting to be good enough to get God’s blessing. To be pure of heart means to have a genuine, sincere, and honest attitude towards ourselves and others. An attitude that not only pleases the Lord, but brings with it many blessings. Blessings including a heart free of shame and guilt, strong relationships with others, a greater sense of purpose in life, and growth in our spiritual walk with the Lord. But what being pure of heart doesn’t mean is being perfect or flawless. Instead it involves practicing humility and kindness, and being able to see the good in others, even when they have wronged us. The same way our Lord and Savior so generously and lovingly sees us.

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March 8th – Psalm 27:14

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Psalm 27:14

We’ve all heard it said that patience is a virtue. It’s also listed by Paul in Galatians 5:22-23 as among the fruit of the Spirit. But when it comes to times of hurting and despair, the last thing we want to do is practice patience. Instead what we want is immediate relief. That’s where faith comes in. God knows what we’re going through. And we need to trust Him enough to have patience to allow Him to work in our lives. To have faith in His perfect plan and timing. I love how John Piper says. “The folly of not waiting for God is that we forfeit the blessing of having God work for us. The evil of not waiting on God is that we oppose God’s will to exalt Himself in mercy.” Waiting on the Lord is an act of faith that requires patience and trust.  And it’s one that allows us to follow God’s plan for our lives, avoid mistakes, and experience spiritual growth and renewal.

 

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March 7th – Genesis 12:2

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Genesis 12:2

The idea of paying it forward isn’t a new fad. In fact it was God Himself who came up with the idea. Throughout the Bible we find that God blesses us to pay it forward and be a blessing to others. Why? Because when we use what God gives us to help and serve others, we show God’s love to the world. The blessings we receive from God, whether they be material possessions, skills, or talents, come with the responsibility to use them for good. For as we’re told in Luke 12:48, to whom much is given, much is required. Most of all, being blessed to be a blessing is a way of fulfilling God’s call to love and serve others. It reminds us that our blessings are not just for our own benefit, but are gifts that we can use to help others and make the world a better place. Look  at Abraham. Through him came the greatest blessing of all, our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

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March 6th – Psalm 106:6

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Psalm 106:6

Comedian Flip Wilson was famous for always using the phrase, “The Devil made me do it!” And he isn’t the first. After eating the forbidden fruit in the Garden of Eden, Eve too tried to lay the blame squarely at the feet of Satan. But that excuse didn’t work for her, and it won’t work for us either. Now that’s not to say the Devil isn’t responsible for tempting us to disobey God. But we alone are ultimately responsible for the choices we make. And there will be times God allows us to face the consequences of our disobedience. But when we come before Him in true sorrow for our sins, our Father will never turn us away. For the Lord generously gives us the blessing of His forgiveness and restoration to those who acknowledge their disobedience, repent from their wickedness and seek His forgiveness through faith in Jesus Christ.

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March 5th – Jeremiah 30:11

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Jeremiah 30:11

As God’s chosen people, Israel faced some pretty big storms. And like her, we too will have times of trial and tribulation. Yet whether the Lord allows these storms because He’s trying to teach us, or like Israel, to bring us to repentance, remember this. Though you may feel lost and battered, God is always in control. And no matter what we face we can claim the same promises God gave to the exiled Jews. The Lord had Jeremiah write a book containing His blessings of deliverance and restoration. A book the people could turn to for hope while they waited for the storm to pass. God blesses us with a book as well, the Holy Bible. And in it we’ll find the same promises of hope, deliverance, and restoration. So trust God to shelter you from the storm until it passes and the sun shines again. And remember, the One who created the storm, also created the rainbow that is sure to follow.

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