Message Magazine’s Online Devotional for Monday, April 18, 2016
“Blessed shalt thou be when thou comest in, and blessed shalt thou be when thou goest out” (Deuteronomy 28:6).
How can we position ourselves for the richest possible blessings available today? This seems to be on many people’s minds. There are tons of books (motivational, spiritual, and otherwise) that focus on the subject. There are self-help series, webinars, and even events scheduled costing tens of thousands of dollars, all promising to link you with great wealth, material prosperity, wisdom, etc. Televangelists promise blessings and instant wealth if you will simply pay the low, low price of [fill-in the blank] dollars to sow your seed. There are paid TV series focused on neuro-linguistic programming, self-hypnosis, and managing the energy you send out into the so-called universe to determine your level of blessings. But is there a biblical way of guaranteeing one’s blessings? If so, how can we position ourselves for the richest possible blessings available today? The key to receiving God’s richest blessings according to God’s design is keeping Him in first position in our lives and doing all He reveals in His Word and by His precious Holy Spirit as He gives us strength.
Keep Him in first position and do all He reveals in His Word and by His precious Holy Spirit as He gives us strength.
This key positioning is what informs our brief thought this morning. Moses said that if we keep God first in all things, we would be highly favored by God as we go out and return everyday. We must never take this seemingly mundane activity lightly. Do you realize how many people leave their homes expecting to return safely and never do? Do you realize how many people go into their homes expecting to find them in the way they left them, but rather find tragedy?
How many of us take going and coming seriously enough to do so with purpose? I mean, do you ask the Lord to order your steps in all you do inside and outside your home? Do you ask Him to make your interactions with people of eternal quality? Do you seek His guidance in all your business inside and out? Are you dependent upon His power to be successful in your home, work, and leisure relationships?
Going out and coming in as ambassadors of the Most High brings inestimable emotional, material, and spiritual blessings. When you put God first, He will send people to you to share encouraging words when you’re down. When you put God first, you will have favor at times you least expect when you need to make purchases and don’t know where you will get the money. When you put God first, you will experience positive breakthroughs in your family life if you don’t give up.
If you still have the power to go out into yours and surrounding communities, give thanks. If you return home, whether you have experienced trials that day or not, give thanks. The truth is God has something for each of us to do as we interact in our environments and it is a blessing to experience His favor as we do. Never take going out and returning lightly. Keep God first in all things.
