Ready To Receive His Blessings

Another week, another Monday! We can’t help but notice this Florida shorebird from one of our Central Florida adventures–he’s always hard at work, not seeming to mind the waves that keep coming at him (or the other shorebirds who are trying to gather food from the same area). Rather, he’s more focused on the prize while carefully dodging the waves until it was his time to roost. He came ready to receive his blessings.

Our dear friend, are you exhausted, stressed out, or even burned out? Maybe you’re tired of your job, tired of being unemployed, tired of staying home, or tired of not seeing any significant results. Oh, and just when we’re feeling this way, the enemy tempts us to look over our shoulder to compare ourselves with others… others who *seem* to be doing far better than we are. Sometimes, we even wonder:

What are we doing wrong?

While there’s nothing wrong with allowing ourselves to feel exhausted or even doing some self-evaluation, we must be careful with the fruit–or by-product–of our actions. Sometimes, it’s our actions (or attitude) that prevent us from receiving the blessing that we were meant to receive that day.  It also sometimes prevents us from being the blessing that we could have been to others that day.

Did you know that God intends for us to receive blessings on a daily basis?

Blessed be the Lord, who daily loadeth us with benefits, even the God of our salvation. Selah.

Psalm 68:19 KJV

He also intends for us to be a blessing to others:

Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.

Galatians 6:2 KJV

Let’s go back to the Florida shorebird.

With the waves came the provision.

Perhaps he sees the waves a little differently than we do.

He probably even has a better attitude toward life than we do.

I can say for sure that his attitude is better than mine. That little creature (magnified by our 400mm lens), with all of his diligence, convicted me of my need for an attitude adjustment.

Where are we placing our diligence?

It’s so easy to lose focus, even on where to place our diligence. My natural inclination is to focus my diligence on the work that God has called me to do, rather than on the One Who has called me to do it.

Whether God has called you to a profession, a role, a temporary assignment or project, let’s not grow weary by misplacing our diligence.

But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.

Isaiah 40:31 KJV

While it’s certainly a good thing to be diligent in what we do, that Florida shorebird reminded me that our diligence must first be focused on our Provider. He is able to meet our needs even through the waves. No matter how good–or fast–that shorebird was, his abilities mean nothing without the provision that God sent through the crashing waves. The provision was sufficient not just for him but also for the droves of shorebirds feasting on the food that day.

Did you know that God rewards those who not only seek Him first (Matthew 6:33 KJV) but also those who diligently seek Him?

But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

Hebrews 11:6 KJV

Be ready to receive His blessings

As we dive into our work this week, let’s not forget to seek Him first and to diligently seek Him out throughout the day so we can be ready to receive His blessings daily, and–more importantly–so we can be a blessing to others. Let’s not deprive others of that blessing!

And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.

Galatians 6:9 KJV

Application

If you’re feeling tired, exhausted, burned out, or discouraged, turn your focus away from your hard work and instead recharge by diligently seeking God out throughout the day. He will give you the wisdom and encouragement to carry on. Best of all, He will provide the increase!

Take action: Take a break from this busy Monday to diligently seek God out and be attentive to His still, small voice. Start with Galatians 6:1-10 KJV. If you would like to know how to start a personal relationship with our Heavenly Father, this page shows you how.