Are You the Most Blessed?

 You are “most blessed forever,” according to Psalm 21:6.  Most blessed in what way?  His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness (2 Peter 1:3), so it follows that when Jesus is our shepherd, I shall not want.  My needs are met according to His riches in glory.  By His stripes I am healed.  He always leads me in triumph and no weapon formed against me shall prosper.  All things work together for good for me because I love Him and am called according to His purpose.  Surely goodness and mercy will follow me all the days of my life. 

Are these statements true for you and are you  really “most blessed forever,” as the king before God?  Since Jesus has made you and  me to be priests and kings forever (1 Peter 2:5, Revelation 1:6) we are the ones this psalm is talking about as kings, and joint heirs with Jesus receiving everything He has purchased through His death and resurrection.  It is true and more than we could ask, think, or imagine. As children of God who by grace share His divine nature (2 Peter 1:4), we have intimate relationship with Jesus, our living hope of eternal glory forever!

In the Gospel of John, Jesus explained various truths as “now is and will be.”  There are times we “feel” and easily declare these positive Scriptures are true in our lives, but there also may be times when circumstances and feelings are screaming against them.  In these challenging times we are called to “fight the good fight of faith.”  We live by faith and not sight, 2 Peter 1:4 reminds us that “through these precious and great promises we escape the corruption that is in the world and partake of divine nature. 

At a recent prayer meeting in Tulsa, the Lord gave a word that the enemy was throwing firry farts designed to “destroy our will to fight.”  Therefore, the Lord is calling us to stand strong in His power, cast down every thought and imagination that is contrary to Christ, and equipped in God’s armor take up the shield of faith and the sword of the Spirit declaring the Word of God as Jesus did in the wilderness against the devil. 

Faith and patience inherit the promises. In Revelation Jesus reminds us that trying times call for the endurance of the saints. We encourage you, like Abraham, to not waver in your faith, but continue to give Him glory for what He has promised.  We will make it and every word of God will prove true.  He is faithful.

Hear the Word, Think Truth, Bless the Lord

This morning I was spending some time in Psalm 103.  Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless His holy name!  What a great reminder that we need to let the " Word," which is spirit and life according to Jesus in John 6, take charge over our flesh and soul and simply obey.  

Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits: who forgives all your iniquities, who heals all your diseases, who redeems you life from destruction (KJV says the pit), who crowns you with lovingkindness and tender mercies, who satisfies your mouth with good things, so that your youth is renewed like the eagles's.  God has done so much for us.  How can we focus on the negative when we are so blessed!  

This morning in the midst of the coronavirus crisis, we are reminded by His Word that not only are my sins forgiven, but my diseases are healed.  So I have been trying to fight the good fight of faith by declaring "Thank you, Jesus, for taking those stripes for me and carrying away my diseases and pains.  By your stripes I am healed." and "Thank you, Holy Spirit,.  You, who are the same Spirit that raised Christ from the dead,  now give life to my mortal body." and "No weapon formed against me shall prosper." 

  Somehow I had forgotten the line that He crowns me with lovingkindness and tender mercies.  To me "crowns" means makes me a king, or gives me authority to rule.  HIs mercy allows and empowers me to take charge and declare God's kingdom over every circumstance.  Praise God forever, when I realize how blessed I am, no wonder my youth is renewed like the eagles.  I want to be like a little child that trusts his Mom and Dad and is excited and enthusiastic about all tthat they have planned for him.  God has done great things for me, and now I trust Him to work all things for my good because I love Him and am called according to His purpose.  

One more line, later in the psalm it talks about God showing His ways to Moses, and I remember an old song, "Teach me thy ways, thy ways O Lord.  Show me thy paths, thy paths, O Lord.  O my God, I trust in thee, let me not be ashamed, let not my enemies triumph over me."   Truly, God;s ways are perfect and we are always right when we declare and take time to "Bless the Lord, O my soul!"