I like this Old Testament verse that speaks about the Lord changing a curse into a blessing. And, I should mention here that in the New Testament, Jesus took the curse for us, so that we could receive the same blessing that God gave to Abraham (Galatians 3:13-14). I think this is a good place to give a definition of the word "blessing." Of course, when we think of this word, we all could describe what comes to mind. But, I want to provide us with a great working definition to just kind of "chew on." Can you go there with me? LOL
Vine's Complete Expository Dictionary states that a blessing is to cause to prosper or to make happy. And that word prosper of course refers to finances, but that's only part of the word. Prosper also means to succeed, to indicate victory. It can also refer to prospering in your physical body, in your health or to prosper spiritually. The Oxford Dictionaries define the word "blessing" as God's favor and protection. I like that!
For our working definition of the word "blessing," let's state that it means God's favor and protection, which includes to cause one to go to his/her destiny, to what the person was created for and placed on this earth to accomplish. The fruit of the blessing includes, but is not limited to prospering financially, physically, emotionally, and spiritually. The blessing also allows one to experience success according to God's plan and purpose, as well as experience victory and maintain an overcoming mentality.
I believe God wants to bless his people; to give us "the blessing." God has plans for each of us. And, I for one want to walk out those plans. I'm not in this to get a pocket-full and run off to some place to retire under a palm tree. I want to walk out God's plan and purpose for which I was created. And, yes this does include being blessed based upon our working definition. And, I'm not saying that there won't be challenges or difficulties, because we live in a fallen world and stuff happens. But through all of that, I want to be of the mindset that God is with me and I'm walking in my calling. And he wants to do this for each one of us, as his dearly beloved children. And, he wants to do this because as it says at the end of our verse from Deuteronomy 23:5, "the LORD your God loves you." This is why he wants to be good to us, this is why he wants to use us and see us blessed, this is why he wants us to walk in our God-given calling, it's because he loves us, and has plans for us. We are it, there isn't a plan B.
The LORD was with Joseph so that he prospered....Genesis 39:2a
Some translations of this verse state that the LORD was with Joseph, so he succeeded in everything he did or that he became a very successful man. I want that, and sometimes I find myself praying it like this, "The LORD is with me, so I prosper, and I have become a very successful woman." And again, this isn't so that I can become a hoarder. No, I want "the blessing" so that I can walk in my God-given calling. I want to go, as the Germans would say, to my "Sitz im Leben," which is "my setting in life." And, for me that is my God-given destiny!
It is the Lord’s blessing that brings wealth, and no hard work can add to it...Proverbs 10:22
This verse can also mean "A blessing from the Lord will bring you true wealth—wealth without troubles.” Yes, we will have challenges and obstacles in this thing called "life." But according to this verse, a blessing from the Lord brings wealth without a lot of difficulty around the wealth, because we will use it to fulfill his purpose and plan. I for one want to believe for that kind of wealth from the Lord. And since I believe the word of God, that's the kind of wealth that I'm going to pray and believe for.
I know that we sometimes get concerned about seeing the word "prosperity" when talking about this Christian life. And for some, that conjures up the image of a charlatan preacher who either wants to take the money that you have or who want to tell you to "name it and claim it or blab it and grab it!" Or on the other hand, you might have been raised to think that poverty makes you "holy" and brings glory to God. Neither one of these images are correct. But, I also don't think we're supposed to just decide to ignore the word "prosper" in the Christian life. Jesus talked a lot about money. There are verses in the Bible that are related to God wanting to prosper his people. And in this world that we live in, we certainly need more than just enough for ourselves. We have to get beyond the "God bless us four and no more" mentality to the point of asking, praying and believing for God to give us "the blessing" to help advance his kingdom here on earth.
This beautiful and lush tree reminds me of the blessing of the Lord. He wants to lavish his people, to the point of "the blessing." If he was with Joseph in the Old Testament, and he became prosperous, he became successful in everything he did, why couldn't God do that for us in 2017, and beyond? I'm going to believe for "the blessing." I'm going to believe for God's favor and protection in my life, which includes to cause me to go to my destiny, to what I was created for and placed on this earth to accomplish, all for God's glory. And, I'm going to believe that the fruit of this blessing includes, but is not limited to me prospering financially, physically, emotionally, and spiritually. And, I'm also going to believe that this blessing allows me to experience success according to God's plan and purpose, as well as experience victory and maintain an overcoming mentality.
How about you? Do you want "the blessing" of the LORD?
