Blessed in the City

Deuteronomy 28:3 You will be blessed in the city and blessed in the country.

I’ve always been a Fred Hammond fan. One of my favorite songs by him is “No Weapon.” However, “Blessed” is a close second. We all need a little inspiration. We all need a little hope. We all need a little encouragement, So despite your current circumstances, I want to remind you that you are blessed. You are blessed in the city. You are blessed in the field. You are blessed when you come and when you go. You are blessed when you don’t feel like it. You are blessed when it doesn’t look like it. Be encouraged!

Favored

There are a couple of names that come to mind when I think about being favored. Abram. Mary. Elizabeth. Joseph. We tend to think that somehow favor means that we won’t endure hardships. Not so. In fact, Mary saw her son crucified, and Joseph was sold into slavery. I am starting to think that favor has more to do with God’s ability to trust you with hardships. When you are favored, God knows you will lean into him during hardships instead of choosing to run away. God knows that the result of testing your faith, will make you a better witness and ultimately a better disciple. Have your found yourself in a season of testing? Have you felt like it was too much for you to bear? Ask yourself are you favored?

Blessed Beyond Measure

Exceedingly above. Running over. These are the words used to describe what our expectation of God's ability to bless us should look like in our lives. We should be examples of “blessed beyond measure.” What does that really mean? Does it mean we will not encounter any issues? Does it mean we won’t experience hardship? No. Actually, when I think of some of the most blessed individuals in the bible, they endured the most. Job lost everything. David lived on the run, his child died, and his house was a hot mess. Elijah was tormented by Jezebel. Why would we expect any less? Our blessings are directly tied to our ability to endure hardship. It sounds oxymoronic, but God’s word said he would use the foolish things to confound the wise. People with the greatest testimonies have endured the greatest tests. No matter what you are going through, count it all joy. You are blessed beyond measure.

Unmerited

We can never give enough, do enough good, help enough people to deserve God’s grace and favor. Every day we wake up is blessing. We can not do anything in our own strength. We have no control over our heart pumping blood through our body. We can’t control the air in our lungs. We exist because God allows it. Every day we experience God’s unmerited and undeserved favor, let’s not take it for granted.

God is Able

Ephesians 3:20 (NKJV) Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.

I'm at the place in my life where I have experienced "above all I can think or ask." I have learned to pray big prayers. I have an expectation built on big faith. I have experienced God's love in the valley. I have felt his comfort in seasons of loneliness, and I've learned that God is still in control and more importantly, God is able. My life, my dreams, my aspirations are nothing without God's ability. It is not through my strength, but His. It is not through my power, but His. Trust that God can do the exceedingly abundant in your life. God is able.

Overtaken

What does it look like when blessings overtake you? Is it like The Wizard of Oz when the tornado swept Dorothy up? Is it like a storm surge? Is it like a surfer that wipes out on a wave? Is it utter chaos followed by bliss? Imagine what it must feel like to truly be blessed. Now, realize that you are blessed. You are blessed in the city. You are blessed in the field. Your children are blessed. Your home is blessed. Your job is blessed. You are overtaken by blessings every day. You woke up. You had a roof over your head, food to eat, and clothes on your back. You made it to and from wherever you went without any bodily harm. Your enemies scattered. Your friends gathered. God is with you. You are overtaken by God's grace and mercy every morning. You are overtaken by God's promises daily. 

Deuteronomy 28:1-8  (KJV)

 And it shall come to pass, if thou shalt hearken diligently unto the voice of the Lord thy God, to observe and to do all his commandments which I command thee this day, that the Lord thy God will set thee on high above all nations of the earth: And all these blessings shall come on thee, and overtake thee, if thou shalt hearken unto the voice of the Lord thy God. Blessed shalt thou be in the city, and blessed shalt thou be in the field. Blessed shall be the fruit of thy body, and the fruit of thy ground, and the fruit of thy cattle, the increase of thy kine, and the flocks of thy sheep. Blessed shall be thy basket and thy store. Blessed shalt thou be when thou comest in, and blessed shalt thou be when thou goest out. The Lord shall cause thine enemies that rise up against thee to be smitten before thy face: they shall come out against thee one way, and flee before thee seven ways. The Lord shall command the blessing upon thee in thy storehouses, and in all that thou settest thine hand unto; and he shall bless thee in the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee.

More

There's more. I want more. I need more. I should be doing more. There's more to life than....What? What is that in us that can't appreciate the now? What is that in us that makes us think that what we have is not enough especially since there are people who live in unspeakable poverty. There are war-ravaged countries where combat is the norm. Don't get me wrong, there is nothing wrong with goals and dreams, but there needs to be some balance. We need to learn to appreciate what we have now. Sometimes, that promotion means less quality time with your family, but it does mean more money. Which one takes a priority in your life. Sometimes, what we want costs us more than we can afford...literally and figuratively. Ask yourself if your "more" is a blessing or a curse. Will it hinder or profit you in the long run? Sometimes, sacrifice is necessary for the greater good. Sometimes, you do need a bigger house or a bigger car. Sometimes, you do need a better job with better benefits. Sometimes, you absolutely do need more. Make sure you are seeking after the right "mores." Make sure you evaluate what "more" is going to really cost you, and if it's really worth it.