WHAT IS PREVENTING YOU FROM ENJOYING GOD’S BLESSINGS?

BIBLE PASSAGE:
Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has
blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ.
(Ephesians 1:3)

MEDITATION:
As believers, how many of us think of ourselves as rich? No matter
how much money we have (or don’t have), if we’re a believer in Jesus,
we are extremely wealthy, because God has lavished the riches of His
grace upon us.

But, unfortunately many believers are living in spiritual poverty. What
is the reason for failing to enjoy the riches God has lavished on those
who believe in Him, His Son, and His ability to take care of our needs?
It could be one of these 3 reasons:

    Ignorance:
        Some Christians don’t know about this unlimited spiritual
        “bank account”, and therefore they never draw upon it.

    Confusion:
        Too many believers just don’t know how to access the treasures
        of God’s grace. As a result, they worry and complain about their
        needs and problems, or in desperation they come to the Lord
        begging and pleading for help. They fail to realize that His
        abundant supply has already been deposited into their account.

    Competing Interests:
        Distraction by things of this world may be the most common reason.
        Christians in this category are focused on possessions, pressing
        responsibilities, and advancement, but they lack a sincere interest
        and/or trust in God’s spiritual blessings.

What God has provided through His grace, supersedes any earthly
wealth we might achieve. His provisions give us the peace and
contentment which money can never buy…and their benefits
reach all the way into eternity.

The only way to access God’s spiritual riches is by faith.
Faith proves itself by the way we react to His commands.
As an example, some people view ‘tithing’ as
‘the church wanting our money to keep their doors open’.

Nothing could further from the truth. When God commanded
Christians to ‘tithe’, He was giving us an opportunity to show
that we are obedient to Him, and to prove that we have a sincere
and trustworthy faith that He can provide what we need.

We don’t have to beg or persuade the Lord to give what He has
already made available to us. Instead, we simply choose to believe
that we are who He says we are, and that we can do what He has
called us to accomplish.

ACTION:
Are you enjoying the blessings of the Lord, or are you still trying
to find satisfaction through what is available in the world?

Think about these questions:
    Is it worth gaining wealth in this world and missing out on God’s
    blessings (both for now, and more importantly, for eternity)?

    How are you proving to God that your faith in Him is real?

    Have you allowed thoughts like, “Oh, He knows my faith is real”
    to prevent you from showing your faith through obedience?

Obedience includes activity.

Pray,
“Heavenly Father, help me to realize the riches You have
given me, and to enjoy those riches above anything the world
tries to offer me. Help me to use everything You have given
me to minister to others and accomplish what You want me
to accomplish for You. Impress on me the importance of
proving my faith through obedience to Your commands.”

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