How to be Blessed
by Paul Griffin
Do you want to know blessings in your life? Psalm 1 tells us that, if this is our desire, we need to walk in the way of the Lord. The psalmist goes on to say that delighting in God’s word can be compared to a tree planted next to a good source of water. It gives a foundation to our lives which will produce growth and fruit.
Several years ago, we lived in Bahrain, a small island just off the coast of Saudi Arabia. There were some natural water springs in Bahrain, and immediately surrounding each one was a number of palm trees and other succulent green vegetation. These oases were in stark contrast to the dry barren landscape of the rest of the island, where there was only the occasional withered-looking thorn bush struggling to survive in the hot desert conditions.
When we delight in God’s word, by reading it and trying to apply it to our daily lives, we can become like those well-watered palm trees. Instead of being like the thorn bushes in a hostile environment, we can be transformed, and our lives will become productive. Basing our lives on what God says rather than on the ideas of man or the lies of the enemy is the way to flourish.
The Apostle Paul understood this and in Romans 12:2 writes, ‘Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.’ Reading God’s word and basing our life on what God says, rather than upon what the world says, results in renewing of our minds and transformation. Instead of giving a place for the enemy to control us with fear and anxiety, we allow God to bring the blessing of knowing His peace and security into our life.
Prayer: Thank You, Lord, that Your word says that I can know Your blessing in my life. Please give me the discernment to recognise any of my thoughts, attitudes or behaviour that are displeasing to You. Help me, Lord, to delight in Your ways and walk in them. Amen.
Paul Griffin Paul spent 20 years working as a chemical engineer for an oil company in South Africa, the Middle East and Japan prior to going to Bible College. Paul and his wife Liz have been involved with Ellel since 1991 and are associate teachers as well as being authors of the books ‘Anger …How do you Handle it?’ and ‘Hope and Healing for the Abused.’
Please feel free to use this devotional to send on to your friends or share with your church fellowship. Provided full acknowledgement is made to Seeds of the Kingdom as the source, you are also welcome to use it in a non-commercial way and reproduce it in magazines or other Christian websites. The copyright for any commercial use of the material remains with Ellel Ministries International.
