Words by Zac Bozeman | Image by Justin Hunter
“Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.” – James 1:17
God is a good God who gives good gifts to his children. He has blessed each of us more than we deserve. As the old hymn goes, “Count your blessings, name them one by one; Count your blessings, see what God has done.”
There are so many things that God has done for us that we do not even recognize or even think about. I believe that our human mind does not have the capacity to understand just how much God has done for us!
However, there are certain areas of our life where we have prayed diligently for God to intervene and bless us, and He has.
If you are a Christian and have been walking with the Lord for any length of time, you have experienced trials, hardships, and pain that shakes you to the core. You can also look back on your life when you have prayed, and God has answered your prayer! For example, when God has delivered you from a situation, sent someone in your life when you needed them most, or made a way when there seemed to be no way.
What is it that you prayed earnestly for and God answered?
For years, Abraham and Sarah prayed for a son, and in His own timing God answered their prayer. Then in Genesis 22, God tested Abraham to see whether He had his heart or if Isaac (his blessing) had his heart. Abraham was tested to see whether he loved the miracle or the One Miracle Worker. God told Abraham to give his blessing back and to give back to God what he had prayed for for many years.
Is there anything in your life that you wouldn’t gladly give up for the glory of God? Is what you hold most dear more important than God?
If God has blessed you with a home, would you sell it today if God wanted you to do so? If God has blessed you with a wonderful career and you have been successful in your field, would you walk away from it if God asked you to do so? If God has blessed you with an incredible family, what would you say if God was calling one of your children to be a missionary in a foreign country?
If God has blessed you and answered your prayer, don’t cling so tightly to the blessing that you could never let it go. Don’t devote yourself to the blessing, rather devote yourself to God and thank Him for the blessing He has given to you.
Has God blessed you with a wonderful spouse? Give your marriage wholly to God.
Has God blessed you with a good job? Give your career wholly to God.
Has God blessed you financially? Give your finances wholly to God.
He is worthy of our praise. He is worthy of our possessions. He is worthy of our relationships. He is worthy of our career.
He is worthy of our entire life.
A Brother in Christ,
Zac
