Have you every wondered why the first thing that God ever did for man was to bless them?
So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. Then God blessed them, and God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it; have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over every living thing that moves on the earth.” Genesis 1:27,28
That blessing was not just about good feelings; it was the empowerment that enabled them to do the work they were given to do as God’s stewards. It also means it allowed them to live their lives unhindered by the misery that followed their disobedience to God. They were truly free to do all that God instructed them to do, and had no knowledge of anything but the goodness of the Lord while the blessing was upon them. We get a great deal of understanding of what blessing really is by looking at what it isn’t.
We all know that we do not do well when the brokenness of this world invades our lives. Adam and Eve can testify to this truth as the quality of their lives was destroyed when God lifted the blessing from them. From that moment on pain, sorrow and toil became their daily bread, and soon after there was a fight in the family, followed by a murder and a runaway son. They went from abundance to survival. God cursed the earth and death, decay, hatred, bitterness, sickness, lack, and everything that makes life hard, replaced the good that they had known.
The Bible doesn’t specifically define blessing for us, but describes it’s fruit very well. While blessing is spiritual, its effects can be clearly seen in the natural as it enriches your life in many different ways.
The first Psalm describes the blessing this way:
He shall be like a tree, planted by the rivers of water, that brings forth its fruit in its season, whose leaf also shall not wither; and whatever he does shall prosper. Psalm 1:3
Whatever he does shall prosper! There can be no doubt that God wants His own to do well. Think of Job before the devil attacked him, (Job 1:8-10) and how he ended after all was said and done. (Job 24:10) King Solomon knew what the blessing was capable of, and testifies of it:
The blessing of the Lord makes one rich, and He adds no sorrow with it. Proverbs 10:22
God’s curse (Genesis 3:17-19) that rests on the earth is the default for how things go down here, but the supernatural blessing, which produces overall well-being, raises the quality of your life above your natural circumstances. It provides when there is no provider, it gives peace in the midst of the storms of life, hope when circumstances spell disaster, and points to the exit when troubles besiege you.
God, in His mercy and great love for us, teaches us in His Word how to live well. When His principles are applied they release blessing on every area of life: provision, peace of mind, health, relationships, family, career, and wisdom to make good choices, to name a few. David, a man after God’s heart, shares his observations with us in the very first Psalm:
Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor stands in the path of sinners, nor sits in the seat of the scornful; but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and in His law he meditates day and night. Psalm 1:1,2
Following counsel from unbelievers, walking in the path of sinners, and sitting with the scornful, rob you of the good things that the Lord has in store for you. When you delight in the law (principles, commandments, word, etc.) of the Lord — and meditate on them day and night — you will find the keys to His blessing. Life without God’s stamp of approval is marred by toil, lack, anxiety, and deep seated frustration. Do all of us live in the full blessing of God? No, but the more we learn and put into practice what we have learned, the better we will do. David also describes the life of the ungodly in his Psalm:
The ungodly …are like the chaff which the wind drives away. Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous. For the Lord knows the way of the righteous, but the way of the ungodly shall perish. Psalm 1:4-6
Be wise and choose the way of righteousness, which is right standing wit God, and stop leaning on your own understanding. Proverbs — the book of principles — is a treasure chest of wisdom for the believer; be sure to spend some quality time in it and discover the wisdom of God for your life.
All the ways of a man are pure in his own eyes, but the Lord weighs the spirits. Commit your works to the Lord, and your thoughts will be established. Proverbs 16:2,3
God also gives sound advice through the prophets:
You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You. Isaiah 26:3
Jesus, the greatest teacher the world has ever known, invites you to learn from Him how to live your life on earth:
Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.” Matthew 11:29,30
You were not made to live with burdens pressing down on your back; you were not put on the earth to survive and die, but to declare the glory of God. Trying to live your life without God’s blessing is to travel down a path strewn with thorns; it will destroy you from the inside out, and there are no winners on that road.
I have experienced His presence in the deepest darkest hell that man can create … I have tested the promises of the Bible, and believe me, you can count on them. ~ Corrie Ten Boom
Today offers an opportunity to examine your life. Look over your shoulder and consider the road that you have travelled. If there is no marker that reminds you of a personal encounter with the resurrected Christ, you may have found the reason for your lack of fulfillment. Everyone needs a personal Damascus Road (Acts 9:1-6) experience, a sober moment of honesty with yourself, prompting you to do what Saul, (later named Paul) did:
And he said, “Who are You, Lord?” Then the Lord said, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. It is hard for you to kick against the goads.” So he, trembling and astonished, said, “Lord, what do You want me to do?” Acts 9:5,6
This is the moment when hatred and bitterness left Paul’s heart, and he discovered the true reason for his life. He was barking up the wrong tree up to that point, but discovered the reason for his birth thereafter:
But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother’s womb… Galatians 1:15
Without God’s hand on your life, it is up to you to make it through to the end, and it can be very hard in this cruel world. That doesn’t have to be so, though; God tells you how to start a life under His care:
Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up. James 4:10
We saw that the very first thing that God did for His own was to bless them, but it was also the very last thing that Jesus did as He ascended into heaven. How can we ever doubt God’s desire to bless His children!
And He led them out as far as Bethany, and He lifted up His hands and blessed them. Now it came to pass, while He blessed them, that He was parted from them and carried up into heaven. Luke 24:51
Fill your mind with the promises of God and begin to walk toward a different life!
Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers. 3 John 1:2
