Good morning beautiful,
It’s easy to mistake the meaning of blessings and promises. Blessings represent God’s favor and protection, while promises are a declaration of God’s commitment to do something or make something happen. It’s common to think that receiving God’s blessings is equivalent to experiencing His promises. However, there are instances where we can encounter God’s promises (ex., Duet. 31:6 says,” God will never leave you nor forsake you”) even before the blessings (ex., house, marriage, job, etcetera) are fully realized. Blessings and promises are often used interchangeably, but it’s crucial to recognize that they don’t always co-occur.
Sometimes, we can feel stuck thinking that God is not coming through or making a way because we don’t quite see the evidence of His blessings playing out in our lives. This morning, I want you to know the truth that blessings are not always materialistic in nature, but they are always valuable. Some of our blessings may take form in the sense of having peace or the ability to forgive someone who has wronged us. These moments allow us to experience God not just in the physical things but rather in the internal places that aren’t visible to the naked eye.
God desires for you to experience His love, but His desire as you wait is to continuously seek Him because he wants us to ally ourselves to be aligned with His purpose. The more we grow and understand the promises of God, the more we position ourselves to be anchored in the unmoving, unwavering sturdiness of God’s solid foundation. Remember that there is nothing new under the sun. What you may perceive as a difficult challenge has been overcome before through the strength of God. Rest assured that this battle can be won with ease, but it’s essential to seek after the things of God and remain steadfast so that He can fight for you ( Read Deut. 3:22).
Sincerely
Your Friend <3
A moment to reflect
The LORD is nigh unto all them that call upon him, to all that call upon him in truth.
Psalm 145:18
As we become “seekers,” we must have a genuine heart as we pursue the things of Christ because false forms of worship1 displease Him. Furthermore, those who are not of God cannot inherit His promises. It is important to understand that there are worldly blessings just as there are spiritual blessings. Merely observing someone being “blessed” does not necessarily mean it comes from God. The evidence of God is when you can recognize His spirit along with the blessing in someone’s life.
Examples of God’s promises and the power of the Holy Spirit are:
- Preservation in affliction: “When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee” ( Is.43:2).
- Forgiveness of sins: “Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool” (Is. 1:18).
- The Holy Spirit: “Therefore being by the right hand of God exalted, and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, he hath shed forth this, which ye now see and hear” (Acts 2:33).
- Putting the law into the heart: “But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, saith the LORD, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people” (Jer.31:33).
God is the same yesterday, today, and forevermore. This assurance means that God is a being of both word and action, always staying true to His nature. Yet, while His nature remains unchanged, His actions are often unpredictable. God does not ‘bless’ in the same manner each time, which can give way to doubt. Doubt can lead to unbelief, but understand that this symptom isn’t the inability to understand but rather the unwillingness to trust. To remain steadfast and eliminate the opportunity of doubt, we must learn to be open to the process of change that occurs when we entrust our plans to God.
Our hearts can be deceitful, and relying solely on our emotions won’t lead us towards progress. Instead, we can become stuck because our spirit is willing, but our flesh is weak (read Mat. 26:41). This means that even though we desire to serve God, our physical selves will always be at odds with that desire. We are in a constant battle, not only with external forces but also with our inner being.2 God understands that our hearts can deceive us and lead us down a destructive path by following our desires. Therefore, He urges us to share our desires with Him. When we follow God, every aspect of our being submits to His authority. By surrendering our hearts, we no longer wander off the path, and God becomes the guide in our lives, directing our every step.
To inherit the promises of His kingdom, we must first be recognized as a daughter of Christ. We can then rightfully inherit the declarations God has spoken over His children. To know that He can keep His word, we must seek Him and find comfort in His promises. Trust in God’s timing, and your harvest will multiply in time.
Daily Challenge
Take a moment to access the link provided and review the biblical promises presented. Choose one that resonates with you or that you believe God is revealing to you. Then, keep a journal throughout the week, reflecting on how God is fulfilling His promises in your life.
https://www.blueletterbible.org/search/Dictionary/viewTopic.cfm?topic=TT0000454
References
- Blue Letter Bible, “David Guzik: Study Guide for Psalm 145,” accessed November 6, 2023, https://www.blueletterbible.org/comm/guzik_david/study-guide/psalm/psalm-145.cfm?a=623018 ↩︎
- Blue Letter Bible, “Matthew Henry: Commentary on Matthew 26,” accessed November 6, 2023, https://www.blueletterbible.org/Comm/mhc/Mat/Mat_026.cfm?a=955041 ↩︎
