So Blessed! (Psalm 4:1)

Today's scripture: Psalm 4:1

So many times, I sit in awe of how very blessed I am. I have a supportive, loving husband, a lovely home, a sweet four-legged fur-baby. I have the privilege of teaching and helping my students to become more effective writers—all from the comfort of my own home. I have wonderful friends. I enjoy fun things like performing at our local community theater.

I am so very blessed.

My life, however, isn't perfect. If you've read my devotionals for any length of time, you know I deal with a plethora of health issues, any of which causes pain. Between them, I honestly don't know a moment without of pain of some kind. Some days are better; some are ... well, not.

Because of my moment-by-moment pain, I often call out to God "in my distress." I often lift a figurative hand and say, "Jesus, will You hold my hand just a little more tightly today?" ... and He does. He hears my cry and holds my hand. Some days, He carries me.

Even though He doesn't take away the pain completely, He offers relief for that moment. He offers mercy, peace, and comfort.

Through the pain, in spite of the pain, I feel His presence ... and I am blessed.

So blessed.

Obey God ... Be Blessed (1 Peter 4:14-16)

Today’s scripture: 1 Peter 4:14-16

It’s pretty simple. Obey God, and be blessed. Disobey God, and be cursed. Even though I’ve read them many times, I’m always struck by verses like Deuteronomy 28:1-2. God tells the people of Israel, if they “diligently obey” Him and are “careful to do all His commandments,” He promised overly-abundant blessings, which will “come upon … and overtake” them.

Can you imagine being “overtaken” by God’s blessings? How awesome is that?!

Now not everything that was written in the books of the law pertains to us. Many of the commandments were for a specific time and place. But I do know this: Obeying God is for all times and all places.

If I love God, if I want to follow Him, I’ll obey His commandments. That’s what I learn over and over in the Old Testament. Then I learn something more in the New Testament: Many won’t like my following God’s commandments. Many will revile me or persecute me because of my faith.

I can expect this, but I can also know God will bless me as I obey Him. I don’t have to be—I must not be—ashamed if I “suffer as a Christian.” Instead, I can—and must—glorify my Lord God and know He’ll bless me as I do. 

Blessed ... and Blessed Again (Galatians 3:6-9)

Today’s scripture: Galatians 3:6-9

Followers of Jesus Christ are blessed by God because we are His children.

Foremost, we are blessed with the promise of eternal life with our Lord and Savior, and I, for one, am looking forward to that.

But think of all the ways God blesses us each day. Or perhaps I should speak for myself.

I’m blessed with a supportive, loving husband. I’m blessed with caring, praying family and friends. I’m blessed with a roof over my head, food to eat, clothes to wear. I’m blessed with a job that allows needed flexibility and a vocation that encourages others.

And even through the difficult parts of my life, I’m blessed. I suffer from ill health, yet I’m blessed with the confidence that Jesus carries me through those days when I can’t carry myself. I don’t have children of my body, yet I’m blessed with many children of my heart.

Blessings through sunny days and mountaintop experiences. Blessings through storms and deep valleys.

All because I’m a daughter of the King.

Sow Bountifully (2 Corinthians 9:6-9)

Today’s scripture: 2 Corinthians 9:6-9

Most of us who live in the United States have been abundantly, overwhelmingly blessed. We own homes and cars and “stuff.” We never have to worry about where our next meal will come from. We have medical care. Plenty of clothes. Computers. Smart phones.

Abundantly blessed.

And we who follow Christ are even more abundantly blessed. We have been given grace—unmerited favor. We have been given mercy. Protection. Provision … Peace. We are loved unconditionally by our Creator God.

He gives us strength to accomplish His purpose for our lives. He comforts us through difficult times. He is ever-present with us.

What do we give in return? Do we use our time wisely, studying His word and spending time in prayer? Serving others? Helping the “least of these”?

Do we joyfully use the talents with which He’s blessed us? Praising Him? Giving Him glory?

Do we cheerfully give a portion of our treasures … that are really His treasures?

Everything we have, everything we are, is His. We are mere stewards. As the psalmist wrote, “The earth is the LORD’S, and all it contains, The world, and those who dwell in it” (24:1). We have been given so much, so we much we must "sow bountifully," doing whatever we can to serve God and others, to further His kingdom, and to glorify God.

White as Snow (Psalm 85:1-3)

Today's scripture: Psalm 85:1-3

We are so deserving of God's wrath and anger. He who is perfect and without sin created man, and in grace and mercy, He gave him the choice to follow—or to turn away. Sin entered the world when man chose to turn away.

Sin is ugly, dark, and insidious. Sin creates a chasm between us and Holy God. Sin keeps us from seeking Him.

God has every right to be angry with sin ... and with us. Yet, He loves us so very much, He made a way for the ugly darkness of sin to be covered with the blood of His Son. Instead of seeing the blackness of sin, He sees us white as snow (Isaiah 1:18).

I hadn't thought about it when I chose this psalm, but it's a perfect reminder of why we celebrate this season. We celebrate the coming of the Son of God, the Lamb who came to save us from our sins. When this psalm was written, of course, Jesus hadn't yet come to earth, but there was still a means by which sin was covered by blood, the blood of a spotless lamb. How blessed we are to know the Lamb who paid the penalty for our sins.

We really are deserving of God's wrath and anger. But because of Jesus' sacrifice, which included coming to earth, taking on flesh, and living as a human, we are cleansed of sin.

And instead of wrath and anger, God showers us with love, grace, and mercy.

Amen.

Mercy! (Psalm 6:7-10)

Today's scripture: Psalm 5:7-10

Yesterday focused on the wicked and evil ... the last two verses of today's scripture do the same.

I don't want to focus on wickedness this morning, though, so I'm going to focus on the first two verses instead (such is my prerogative as the writer!).

I've written before how I love the word "mercy." As we've seen before, grace is receiving what we don't deserve, and mercy is not receiving what we do deserve.

Our God is so patient and loving. I may be the only Christ-follower who slips up, who sometimes neglects time with the Lord, who battles habitual sin ... but, I sense I'm not alone. Yes, the longer I walk with the Lord, the less often I do these, but I still fail sometimes.

Yet, God continues to love me and bless me. Instead of the punishment I do deserve, He showers me with good things. He protects me and gives me strength. He provides for me and cares for my needs.

He guides my paths and gives me wisdom to make decisions. He allows me to serve Him and others using the gifts He's given me.

I deserve His turning His back on this flawed, fleshly vessel, but He invites me to climb on His lap and call Him, "Abba ... Daddy."

Ah, mercy.

Thank You, Lord God, for mercy. You continue to bless me beyond expectation, beyond anything that I deserve. Help me to serve You so that I can give You back even a fraction of what You've given me. Thank you.

Praise Him ... Wholeheartedly (Psalm 138:1-2)

Today's scripture: Psalm 138:1-2

I've often written about praise and worship. Not only is it a commandment to do so, it's a wonderful privilege.

We often think of praise and worship as being what we do in church before the sermon. We sing a few "praise songs" and think we've done our duty. If, however, we take verses like today's seriously, praise should be a continual action. We should, indeed, praise God with whole hearts. Complete hearts. Entire hearts.

Our God is worthy of praise for so many reasons. Grace. Mercy. Love. Protection. Provision. Strength.

For some of us, just getting up in the morning is a reason for praise. The fact that we have food and water, a roof over our heads, clothing on our backs ... all reasons for praise.

The relationships with which we're blessed.

Our senses. Our health. Our bodies that allow us to work and play.

The beauty of creation. Mountains. Oceans. Flowers and trees. Animals. Birds.

It should be so easy to praise God continually with all our hearts because we've been given so much. Yet, we're so often guilty of going through our days forgetting by Whose hand we're blessed ... we take so much for granted.

Maybe today—just for today—as we enjoy each and every blessing, we can praise Him ... wholeheartedly.

Revival and Comfort (Psalm 71:19-20)

Today's scripture: Psalm 71:19-20

Do you ever find yourself in need of being revived? Of being comforted?

You may be thinking: Every. Single. Day.

I can certainly relate.

It seems like, more and more, I need a supernatural revival just to get out of bed each morning. As my various health issues continue to sap my daily strength, I need the strength that comes only through my Lord Jesus Christ.

And those days when I feel lonely or sad or melancholy—and they do come—I know I can crawl on my Abba's lap and seek the comfort of His arms.

That's why I love verses like today's. I'm reminded that the righteous, one-and-only God does "great things" like creating the universe, yet He also takes time for me and my in-the-grand-scheme-of-things minor troubles.

He offers spiritual refreshment. He showers me with abundant blessings. His mercies overflow.

He revives me when I feel down in the "depths of the earth." He offers comfort when I'm hurting.

He loves me. He loves you.

Ask Him for physical or spiritual revival today. Crawl on His lap and seek His comfort.

Our righteous, loving God will give you what you need.

Every. Single. Day.