Occasionally, though, you have to get through the rougher times to reach the unimaginable blessings on the other side of the darker times of living in this world.”
–Kenneth S. Pratt (The Wolves of Windsor Ridge)
“I will make them and the places all round My hill a blessing; and I will cause showers to come down in their season; there shall be showers of blessing.”
“I will make them and the places all round My hill a blessing; and I will cause showers to come down in their season; there shall be showers of blessing.”
–Ezekiel 34:26 (NKJV)
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1 — God be merciful to us and bless us, and cause His face to shine upon us, Selah
2 — That Your way may be known on earth, Your salvation among all nations.
3 — Let the peoples praise You, O God; let all the peoples praise You.
4 — Oh, let the nations be glad and sing for joy! For You shall judge the people righteously. And govern the nations on earth. Selah
5 — Let the peoples praise You, O God; let all the peoples praise You.
6 — Then the earth shall yield her increase; God, our own God, shall bless us.
7 — God shall bless us, and all the ends of the earth shall fear Him.
–Psalm 67:1-7 (NKJV)
Why should God be merciful to us? Give one good reason? Is it for your self-satisfaction, or self-promotion? Verse 2 tells us why, so that His way will be known. We should want God to bless us so that we can be a testimony. “God puts His name on us to advance His own agenda in this world. He wants me to be Christ-centered rather than self-centered.” (George O. Wood).
There used to be a chorus sung in the church back in the 1970s and 80s, “I’m blessed, I’m blessed, I’m blessed…” Really what most Christians were singing and not realizing it was, “I’m spoiled, I’m spoiled, I’m spoiled…” It was “bless me Lord.” Not “bless the Lord, O my soul and all that is within me…” Far too often we want self-gratification, after all we’re God’s children. Ah, but children must learn the lessons of life–the lessons of the Spirit. God’s blessings are not to spoil us, but to build the kingdom of God.
We forget that the Lord paid a dear price for our salvation–His precious blood. Ponder that, He paid for us. Hmmm, that speaks of ownership. Oh my, not a popular thought in this day. Being owned–God owning us. We need to get to the point of being able to truthfully and honestly say, “Not my will, but yours, be done” (Luke 22:42). When we finally give our lives over to Him, when we fully surrender everything, then we will realize the depth of God’s blessings. They come because of our obedience; they come because of His love.
Understand that part of being thankful is praising the Lord. This week of Thanksgiving take time to genuinely thank the Lord for His blessings. Take time to name them, then praise Him and thank Him for them. You’ll be amazed.
“Let all the world in every corner sing, ‘My God and King!’
The church with psalms must shout; no door can keep them out.
But more than all, the heart must bear the longest part,
Let all the world in every corner sing, ‘My God and King!'”
–George Herbert
——————————————
1 — God be merciful to us and bless us, and cause His face to shine upon us, Selah
2 — That Your way may be known on earth, Your salvation among all nations.
3 — Let the peoples praise You, O God; let all the peoples praise You.
4 — Oh, let the nations be glad and sing for joy! For You shall judge the people righteously. And govern the nations on earth. Selah
5 — Let the peoples praise You, O God; let all the peoples praise You.
6 — Then the earth shall yield her increase; God, our own God, shall bless us.
7 — God shall bless us, and all the ends of the earth shall fear Him.
–Psalm 67:1-7 (NKJV)
Why should God be merciful to us? Give one good reason? Is it for your self-satisfaction, or self-promotion? Verse 2 tells us why, so that His way will be known. We should want God to bless us so that we can be a testimony. “God puts His name on us to advance His own agenda in this world. He wants me to be Christ-centered rather than self-centered.” (George O. Wood).
There used to be a chorus sung in the church back in the 1970s and 80s, “I’m blessed, I’m blessed, I’m blessed…” Really what most Christians were singing and not realizing it was, “I’m spoiled, I’m spoiled, I’m spoiled…” It was “bless me Lord.” Not “bless the Lord, O my soul and all that is within me…” Far too often we want self-gratification, after all we’re God’s children. Ah, but children must learn the lessons of life–the lessons of the Spirit. God’s blessings are not to spoil us, but to build the kingdom of God.
We forget that the Lord paid a dear price for our salvation–His precious blood. Ponder that, He paid for us. Hmmm, that speaks of ownership. Oh my, not a popular thought in this day. Being owned–God owning us. We need to get to the point of being able to truthfully and honestly say, “Not my will, but yours, be done” (Luke 22:42). When we finally give our lives over to Him, when we fully surrender everything, then we will realize the depth of God’s blessings. They come because of our obedience; they come because of His love.
Understand that part of being thankful is praising the Lord. This week of Thanksgiving take time to genuinely thank the Lord for His blessings. Take time to name them, then praise Him and thank Him for them. You’ll be amazed.
“Let all the world in every corner sing, ‘My God and King!’
The church with psalms must shout; no door can keep them out.
But more than all, the heart must bear the longest part,
Let all the world in every corner sing, ‘My God and King!'”
–George Herbert