God has a purpose for everything He does. Nothing, and I mean nothing, takes Him by surprise. He is omnipotent. He is omniscient. Psalm 147:5 says, “Great is our Lord, and abundant in power; His understanding is beyond measure.” We are truly blessed by His gracious hand. So, what does it mean to be blessed by God? More importantly, why does He bless people?
Picture this image: “Pour a gallon of water over a bucket and it will retain most of it. Pour the same gallon of water over a pop bottle and only a small portion will make its way inside. The difference in the two vessels is their capacity to receive. God’s calls of obedience in your life do not increase His capacity to bless you; they are given to increase your capacity to receive. An open hand can hold more than a closed one, a soft heart can absorb more than a hard one, a thirsty soul will drink more than a self-satisfied one.” (taken from Never Forgotten Always Loved, DaySpring, September 26)
What are you to receive openly and freely with open hands, a softened heart, and a thirsty soul? The most wonderful love ever. His name is Jesus Christ. You are to receive Jesus Christ into your life.
From within the womb of your mother, God has been blessing you. He called you into existence. He knit you together; read Psalm 139 and be reminded of just how personal God is with you. Your birth is a blessing. Every breath you take is a blessing. The fact that your heart is beating is a blessing. Right now, God is knitting together my grandson in his mother’s womb. He is being formed with purpose. In the beginning of 2024, he will arrive for a such a time as this: for God’s glory and His Kingdom.
You are here for this same reason as my two grandsons who are already here, and for the one coming.
It is so easy, though, to misplace God’s blessings and forget your purpose. You and I live in a world where God’s ways are twisted, thwarted, thrown upside down, and tossed aside. Sin has disrupted and continues to disrupt anyone and everyone from living out this very simple but profound way of life: for God’s glory and His Kingdom.
God is teaching you to become like a bucket rather than remain like a pop bottle. He is showing you that having open hands is the way to abundant living. The Holy Spirit will help to soften your heart as you learn to surrender to His will over your own. And the presence of Jesus will increase your thirst for Him as you learn to abide in Him.
God blesses you so you will turn to His Son. You are never to take God’s blessings as rewards for what you do. God is to receive all glory and honor for all that you have. You are to respond to God with a grateful and thankful heart. You are to keep your knees bowed to His love and authority as you live out each day.
What has God blessed you with? Take the time to write them down, then sit in God’s presence and ask Him to show you how to bring Him glory in all your moments today. Ask Jesus to lead you into meaningful Kingdom work. Be open, like a bucket, to follow where He leads you, even if that means you have to make some changes. Changes may be physical in nature, like a job change, or a mindset change. You need to align your thoughts to God’s truths; read Romans 12:2. Whichever, be willing to follow the Lord Jesus with a surrendered heart and respond appropriately to the blessings God gives you.
You are here for God’s glory and His Kingdom. Nothing more. Nothing less.
Carol J German 