TEXT:
‘Let them shout for joy and rejoice, who favour my vindication and want what is right for me; Let them say continually, “Let the Lord be magnified, who delights and takes pleasure in the prosperity of His servant.”’ (Psalm 35:27 AMP).
People have said to me, “You’re only a Christian for what you can get.” Absolutely true! There are so many wonderful blessings to receive, the forgiveness of sins being the most important. What hope could a non-believer give to a man nearing the end of his life and wracked with guilt because of sin? “Don’t worry” won’t help because he is worried. “Have another drink and forget” doesn’t help either, because nothing can blot out the fear of what is after death. Only a Christian could help by showing them how to put their trust in Jesus.
A man once said to me, “You Christians can’t lose. If it happens, you say it’s God’s will, and if it doesn’t, you also say it’s God’s will”. To which I replied, “Isn’t that a wonderful position to be in!”
It’s because of all God’s wonderful blessings that I want to serve the Lord. All I have to do is ensure I put God first and He will do the rest. The religious wrongly say we shouldn’t pray for ourselves. Why not? I’m important to God and Today’s Teaching focusses on five things God has done for others. If God did it for them, He can do the same for me and you.
- He lifted me – ‘He lifted me out of the pit of despair, out from the bog and the mire, and set my feet on a hard, firm path, and steadied me as I walked along’ (Psalm 40:2 TLB).
Are you in a horrible pit with no way out? God takes pleasure in turning things around. The pit could be sickness, disease, debt, divorce or demonic oppression. We’re not told when or why David was in that horrible pit. He sought the Lord and God acted. It was a very dark time when David was being chased around by King Saul, who wanted to kill him, but one day it all changed, and he was lifted out of that horrible pit. His prayers turned to praise, and he made sure that everyone around him knew it was God who had done it.
- He follows me – ‘The Lord appeared to Abram and said to him, “I am Almighty God; walk before Me and be blameless’ (Genesis 17:1).
If Abraham was told to walk before God, God must be following him. The Bible says, ‘Goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life’ (Psalm 23:6). God’s not following trying to find fault, but to see how He can bless and direct. ‘For the eyes of the Lord search back and forth across the whole earth, looking for people whose hearts are perfect toward him, so that he can show his great power in helping them’ (2 Chronicles 16:9 TLB). God follows me as my protector, provider and peace.
- His blessings overtake me – ‘All these blessings shall come upon you and overtake you, because you obey the voice of the Lord your God’ (Deuteronomy 28:2).
God’s blessings are coming after me faster than I am travelling, so they overtake me. We become more blessed when those blessings overtake us. We can say positively:
“I am blessed in the city and in the country. The fruit of my body and the produce of my ground is blessed. The increase of my herds, cattle and flocks is blessed. My basket and kneading bowl are blessed. When I come into or go out of my house, I am blessed. My storehouse and my work are blessed. When my enemies come against me, they shall flee, because I am blessed.” (See Deuteronomy 28:1-14).
Who, in their right mind, wouldn’t want all these blessings to overtake them? The key is simple, ‘If you diligently obey the voice of the Lord your God, to observe carefully all His commandments’ (Deuteronomy 28:1). God is saying, “I will if you will.” Will you?
- His favour surrounds me – ‘For You, O Lord, will bless the righteous; with favour You will surround him as with a shield’ (Psalm 5:12).
The key is being righteous. The Bible says, ‘He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him’ (2 Corinthians 5:21). Therefore, there is no real reason why His favour will not surround us. Satan complained to God that he could not get at Job because God had put a hedge of protection (favour) around him (See Job 1:10). Thank God, His protection releases songs of praise, ‘You are my hiding place from every storm of life; you even keep me from getting into trouble! You surround me with songs of victory’ (Psalm 32:7 TLB).
- He satisfies me – ‘With long life I will satisfy him and show him My salvation’ (Psalm 91:16).
The Bible says, ‘And the Lord will guide you continually, and satisfy you with all good things, and keep you healthy too; and you will be like a well-watered garden, like an ever-flowing spring’ (Isaiah 58:11 TLB). ‘Who satisfies your mouth with good things, so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s’ (Psalm 103:5). There’s nothing more I need to add; these verses say it all!
I am so thankful that when someone said all those years ago, “Why don’t you give God a chance?”, I did, and I have been blessed by these blessings since. It’s not too good to be true. God will honour your faith when you put your trust in Him!
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