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August 12, 2024

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LIVE THE BLESSING

"Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us." Ephesians 3:20

We are a complex creation of God. Many things attract our attention, consume our time, and distract our focus from that which is of utmost importance. You might say, "I think I have my life fairly well under control, and I spend my time wisely and beneficially." This might be entirely correct, but just as there is a difference between good and best, we can be inundated with "good" things that rob us of what should be the "best" and the most essential focus of our life.

Many people are involved in meaningful pursuits that are beneficial to others, and have lasting results. For most of us, we spend too much of our time and effort in things that hinder us from being involved in the best God has for us. Sometimes, unknowingly, we settle for second best, when God has "acres of diamonds" for us to reap for His glory.

What does it mean to "live the blessing?" It simply means that the whole of our personality is empowered by the Holy Spirit, with the adequacy of Christ. It is to live in the reality of a personal relationship with Christ, where He is the PRIORITY OF ALL OF OUR LIFE. HE is foremost in our thoughts, our conversation, our walk, our decisions, our relationships, our goals...our entire life!

He has given us the tools to appropriate His promises, His Covenant, His presence, His power, and His sufficiency for every need we will encounter. He says in 2 Peter 1:4, "He has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires." As we appropriate what God has given, we can know the exceeding joy of living life on the highest plane..."to live the blessing."

The Lord is not one who is out there "somewhere," but lives within us, who desires to manifest His life through us. He wants to encompass our life with the virtues of His life. Wow! Has this ever entered your mind and heart? When this truth grabs your heart, it will radically change your life. You will know what it means to walk in HIS companionship...walking in the reality of His presence.

Paul speaks from experience. "But thanks be unto God, who in Christ always leads us in triumph (as trophies of Christ's victory) and through us spreads and makes evident the fragrance of the knowledge of God everywhere. [Now notice very carefully the next few words] For we are the sweet smelling fragrance of Christ unto God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing" (2 Corinthians 2:14). It is inconceivable to me that God would manifest Himself to us in such an unbelievable way! But that is God! He wants to so bless our lives that we become the "sweet smelling fragrance of Christ" to Him.

This is to "live the blessing," submitting our heart, will, and life to His control and lordship; He clothes our lives with the virtues of Christ. We experience a freedom of heart and a liberty of spirit that we can know in no other way. His promises become a reality. He intercedes for us in things beyond our capability. Prayer becomes an exciting adventure of exercising faith for the impossible.

Dare to trust Him to take you from "what you are" to "what HE wants you to be."

© 2007 by Ed Powell. Used by permission.


This page was reprinted by permission from: http://litmin.org/dare.php?date=2024-08-12


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