Blessings

“Every good thing given and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shifting shadow.” James 1:17 NASB

“A blessing is what we get from practicing righteousness and rejecting wickedness.” Inspirational Quotes

Have you ever gone on a dinner date and knew there was a dark motive? Have you ever had someone help with your work and then take credit for all of it?  The situations promise something but deliver something entirely different than expected.

The Blessings of God have no darkness or push-pull motivations. The blessings may be so familiar or subtle that we miss them. I missed a horrific car accident by a few minutes and was grumpy because I was late getting to an appointment. I missed the hug from my son when he was little because he would be covered in dirt or some other unknown substance. He used to put earthworms in his pockets.

Proverbs promises blessings on the household if we keep close to Him and practice righteousness. That’s right, practicing. Practicing righteousness is not a cakewalk, even with help from the Word and the Holy Spirit. That’s because we abandoned our old way of life to walk in the Savior’s way. That old way is comfortable and familiar. But the blessings come when we change direction and walk with Him and they’re always more than we expect.

Musings

A job well done. An unexpected gift from a friend. A peaceful and contented day. The smell of a newborn. A wet kiss from your child. A delicious dinner. These are blessings we overlook. Running water and heat for our homes! When the famous columnist Erma Bombeck was diagnosed with cancer, suddenly the stained carpet, the dust mites, and the loads of laundry shrunk to their true importance. I, too, put off gatherings because of a stained carpet and loads of laundry. I’m missing some blessings!

Prayer

Dear Father,

Thank you for Your many blessings, especially the ones we take for granted or miss entirely. Please help us practice righteousness daily knowing this leads to peace, joy and success.

We have a new year to look forward to because of Jesus’ sacrifice. May we remember daily.

Amen.