Tuesday, April 16, 2013

God delivers full packages!

Have you ever prayed for something and once you received it questioned how God will help you maintain it? For instance, have you prayed for a job and once you received the offer doubted if you were competent for the position? Or...have you prayed to meet your future spouse and when he/she entered in your life, you could not recognize he/she was your God-send? Or, how about this...have you prayed to get accepted into a university and once you were granted admission worried about how you would finance your education? Know and understand that God delivers FULL packages. When he blesses us, he gives us EVERYTHING we need to maintain it. I am writing this article to share three (3) Kingdom of God principles that God has taught me over the years. These principles have blessed me yesterday, bless me today, and will continue to be great blessings in my life. They are as follows:

1) God delivers full packages.
2) Have an EXPECTANT and OBEDIENT heart.
3) God blesses you to BE a blessing.

God delivers FULL packages
When God blesses us, he does not do so halfway. Imagine a UPS employee coming to your home to deliver a package. Once you receive the package, you notice that it is partially opened and half of its contents are gone. I am sure this will have you question where the other half of your package went and how you can get the remainder of the package. Well, when God delivers our blessing, he does not leave anything out. Be encouraged in knowing that when God opens up the windows of heaven and pours out a blessing, he does not withhold part of the blessing. As a matter of fact, God will pour out a blessing that we will not even have room to receive (Malachi 3:10). This particular scripture is tied to the act of obedience related to tithing (more on that later).

If he blessed you by granting you that dream business, then he will ensure that you have the finances, resources, divine connections, and favor you need to be successful. I heard this once and find it to be so true: when God gives you a VISION, he also supplies the PROVISION. Whatever tools you need to make your blessing work for you, God will provide that. He will not grant you a blessing and not also give you what you need to be prosperous. If he blesses you with a house, he will provide you with the finances to maintain it. If he blesses you with a job, he will grant you the wisdom and understanding to be productive. If he blesses you with a spouse, he will give you the grace needed to have a healthy relationship. If he blesses you with healing, he will give you thestrength to maintain your heath. If he blesses you with a gift/talent, he will give you the confidence to share it with the world. God will deliver FULL packages. God’s packages come fully loaded. I am not referring to a whim desire or a minor want. I am referring to a God-inspired prompting that has been manifested into a blessing. Also, keep in mind that the part we need to play comes with the benefits of God in the form of blessings and WHO he is. Our part is the heart of expectancy, willingness, and obedience (more on this later).

Do NOT worry about the How! Trust and know that God shall supply All of your needs (Philippians 4:19). Just focus on what is in your control and that which is not in your control, give it over to God. God is not a man that he shall lie nor a son of man that he shall repent (Numbers 23:19). If he promised it to you, he will do it!! God is more than able to bless you. Keep in mind that everything you will ever need in life is IN God. Know that with you and God you are a majority. We need to have an attitude that proclaims “If God promised it to me, then I believe it and that settles it.” Have the faith to BELIEVE. If you can believe it, then you can have it. Whatever your “it” is.

Have an EXPECTANT and OBEDIENT heart.
Before a blessing comes your way, you have to be prepared to receive it with an EXPECTANT and OBEDIENT heart. Know that in following Christ, there are great benefits. As we take our walk more seriously and move into a place of obedience, we begin to take on the characteristics of Christ-which are the fruits of the spirit (Galatians 5:22-23). These are love, joy, peace, long-suffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.

God blesses you to BE a blessing
God blesses us in abundance not for own benefit, but for us to be a blessing to others. The Bible says that “every good gift comes from God” and that “God shall withhold no good thing from his children.” Knowing that should help you to recognize that God’s desire is to bless us and ensure that his children (us) are well taken care of. He also desires that we bless others. We are the hands and feet of Christ on this earth.
Have you ever prayed for someone in need and asked God to help them in their situation or to bless them in their time of trouble? Well, it is possible that in some of those situations, God wanted you to be the one who blesses that friend/family member/stranger in need. We are the vessels of God and so we are the ones that God uses to show kindness to others, give a helping hand, love others, support those in need, and be of support to others. Sometimes, we are the answer to someone’s prayers. When we allow God to use us as his vessel, then that is when we extend ourselves to others in need through service and without expectation of anything in return. There is song by Christian contemporary artist, Kari Jobe, that has the following lyrics: “we are the light of the world, we are the city on the hill, we are the light of the world, so we gotta, we gotta, we gotta let the light shine.” The Bible teaches us to “be in the world, but not of the world.” There should be something striking about each child of God that others can see and automatically think, “hmm…there is something so warm and open about that person.” It is when we allow God to use us and let our light shine, that we can be a blessing to others.

Take home message: The blessing may be in disguise or it can be within you. You never know how your prayer is going to be answered. Be open to possibilities all around you to be a blessing to others. Keep in mind that the very answer to your prayer…the blessing…is already within you. It is up to you to RECOGNIZE IT. Be a blessing to others and watch how God blesses you.
Faith Challenge: This month’s faith challenge will focus on the fruit of the spirit KINDNESS. I challenge you between now and the next chapter to perform at least one random act of kindness. For example, it could be giving an encouraging word to someone, visiting someone who is ill, smiling more to others, opening the door for others, taking a friend out for lunch, etc. There are endless possibilities of how you can show more kindness to others.

You can be the answer to someone’s prayers. I would love to hear from you on how you have included more kindness in your life. Spread the kindness!

Happy Easter! Love and Blessings,
RTN