Today’s Scripture: And he blessed him and said, “Blessed be Abram by God Most High, Possessor of heaven and earth; Genesis 14:19 ESV
I am thankful for being blessed by the God Most High. I am blessed by the Word of God and His Spirit who affirms in me that He is my God Most High. The same God, the same Creator and Possessor that blessed Abram; He is mine and I am His.
As I read Genesis 14 and noted that the word Possessor was capitalized I read the footnote. In some translations this is also Creator. How appropriate to know that our God, our LORD created but also possesses this world today.
The God and promises of Genesis are still alive and well today. The promises in His Word are our promises. Like Abram God had given us a land. I am lifting my eyes to see the land God has given me.
Will you keep your eyes on the blessings of the God Most High today?
Today’s Prayer: LORD, You are the God Most High and I praise You and I am blessed by You. LORD God thank You for blessing me. LORD I lift my eyes to You and see the land You have given me. Help me to see all of it and to walk it all with You. You LORD are the Creator and Possessor of all things and in You I am blessed. Amen
Tom Raines
Christian Affirmations 4 Life
What a wonderful promise. I needed this reminder this morning, even though I did not want to be reminded. God did bless Abraham and He blesses us. I am so blessed. I look around and I have so much to be thankful for. Many people would jump at the chance to walk in my shoes. I know that God has blessed me and is blessing me but I am dealing with something that I can’t seem to get past, that seem to robs me, or at least causes me to loose focus of my blessings.
As I have sat here and thought about Abraham I am reminded that we may have to look back to see our blessings. Wonder how blessed Abraham thought he was as he faced the circumstances of Hagar as his wife and Ishmael, of Sarah the one he loved the most was whining about not having children, and trying to lead thousands of people to walk with God. We can see how God keep His promise to Abraham but right in the middle of his rose garden was some thorns that momentarily keep us from focusing on our blessings.
In the midst of the blessing that I have in my life, I am wrestling with a thorn. Just when I think that I have learned to live among the roses (the blessed life) without getting, pricked (temptation), then I get stuck (hurt, followed by different actions). We are going to be tempted. The truth is if my thorn was anything other than someone I love dearly, then it wouldn’t matter. The problem is not this person, even though they are a part of the problem. The problem is that I am allowing this person’s actions to define me, to rob me of the joy that I should be enjoying when I am with my family. I keep allowing her to hurt me and I keep pulling away in fear of getting hurt again. In fear of saying or doing things as I normally would I actually creep into my shell. But all along, I keep seeing Jesus on the cross saying, “forgive her for she does not really understand what she is doing.”
I am studying the beatitudes, how we as Followers of Jesus is to respond to life. Blessed, happy, are those who live in this world but are able to understand their belonging in God’s kingdom. I am so blessed that I am growing in my faith and that the Holy Spirit is producing in me the fruit of the spirit where it once was not there. Paul said that God’s strength is sufficient in times of need.
Tom, and others who may read this. I know this is may be a clear as mud to you, but confession is good for the soul. Sometimes we just need to get things off our shoulder. I already feel a sense of peace about this. The truth sets us free. Thank you for speaking truth each morning. Tom, you may not carry the title Reverend, but you are a pastor indeed. God bless you. Pray for me today that I will rely on God’s strength instead of my own to walk in His ways.
Patsy, I am so thankful and honored by your honesty here. I am overwhelmed with God’s Spirit to Pray with You. Yes we all have thorns, we all have temptations yet deep down we know the LORD our God is our shield. LORD help us to remember to carry You and our shield to be prepared for the battles this life, this flesh brings. LORD God I am so thankful for my sister Patsy and pray we all here can honor you with honesty and hope in Your promises to us. LORD, just as Abraham and Sarah had battles and confrontations that threatened their beliefs they allowed You to make them who You desired. We cry out to You too now Father for You to make Your will, Your covenant with us known to us. LORD use us in the face of adversity with others. Use adversity Father to bring us closer to You. LORD we cry out to You to be with Patsy and to work in her to give this difficult relationship to You Father God. We hand this person over to You. We pray that You break their hearts and also reveal Yourself to them in this situation. LORD, we can feel stressed on every side yet I pray we look to YOu and YOur light to know You are our LORD and You love us and the others in our lives. LORD Your will be done and may we see You and the change You desire in all of us in circumstances and relationships. I praise You and thank You for my sister Patsy who is bold enough and loves you enough to open her heart and experience to all of us here so we can pray with her and witness God’s miracles and promises. LORD be at work in Patsy’s life and this particular challenging relationship that attempts to rob her of joy. LORD You are our Joy and our peace and we give this relationship to You to do Your will. Amen
Patsy, sorry I didn’t get respond yesterday…full day and evening:) Much love to you and my heart is so thankful for your presence here and your faithfulness and boldness to encourage this “ministry”. God is using you my sister to encourage and teach all of us. I am blessed by your presence and your participation. Much love to you and yours!
Thank you Tom. You are a faithful friend. God is truly at work in my life and in those around me. I am learning to focus on my blessings. It makes for a better day.
Amen Patsy and I am thankful for how faithful and supportive you have been for me and Affirmations of God. I too find if I focus on blessing God and His blessings to me that I see a lot of blessings and do not notice many of the potholes of life. Blessings and focus my friend!