Sustain The Blessing - Friday Praise & Pray (for others) January 21, 2022

As we continue to wait and prepare for God's blessings, let us consider some additional questions. How do we sustain the gifts the Lord gives us? How do we maintain them in a way that is pleasing to God and honors Him?

Far too often, we want things but have no idea how to hold onto them once received. A perfect, yet unfortunate, example involves lottery winners. So many of them come into incredible wealth but don't adjust to it well. The result can oftentimes be that the winner is worse off than before.

There are Biblical examples of people who received so much from the Lord but their end left a lot to be desired. King Solomon was a great king. A man who impressed God so much that he received wisdom, riches, fame and more. However, he turned from the Lord. He married 700 women and had 300 concubines. This, despite Deuteronomy 17:17 which commanded the king to not have many wives or he would be led astray. And led astray he was. His many foreign wives brought their idols and the end of his reign resulted in the kingdom being split in half.

Had King Solomon obeyed the instruction in Deuteronomy 17:18-19 to read the word always, he might have avoided some of his mistakes and the grace he received could have extended to his son and the kingdom after his death. That was indeed the case for King David, his father, who never turned to idols and although he had shortcomings, served God faithfully to the end. He brought blessings to those who came after him.

Praise God, we have the Bible to study and learn the requirements to retain the blessings God gives us. And once we comply, we won't lose the grace God places on us, IJMN, Amen.

We can't afford to stop obeying God like King Solomon did. We will need to keep doing whatever made us worthy of receiving God's grace in the first place. We must continue to love Him, to serve Him and Him alone. We must sup on His word in the Bible, listen to His voice and obey it. God wants us to lean on Him, and when we mess up, seek His forgiveness. And of course, we must not turn from Him. Ever (Deuteronomy 6:12).

Matthew 6:33 - But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.

Ultimately, we need to form a relationship with God and maintain it. It is that relationship which will open us up to His blessings. That relationship will enable us to enjoy them until He calls us home and extend the blessings to those who come after us (Exodus 20:5-6). May we all develop a deep relationship with the Lord, a relationship where we honor, please and serve Him. Where He informs us how to receive and sustain His goodness in our lives, IJMN, Amen.