The blessings come in waves. The sheer volume threatens at times to overwhelm. It feels like standing in the ocean as the breakers crash, causing a loss of balance.
Not all blessings are gentle, warm.
They aren't all things that would be freely chosen.
But they are blessings, still.
Because He uses all to fashion us according to His Purposes, for His Use.
Yet, a choice must be made:
How to respond?
Joyfully receive from His Hand in humility, with thankfulness and gratitude, trusting that everything He sends this way is the most loving way possible He can achieve in us/through us what He desires; that it all does work together for Good?
Or . . .
Like a spoiled child, chafe under the friction the gift may produce as it sands away the rough places in our souls, even rejecting the gift completely because "it's too hard," failing to recognize that by so doing, the very deepest longing of my heart is self-destructively thwarted?
In looking more closely, does the response chosen define it as blessing or burden? Doesn't the response, in part, determine the scope of the effect on the eternal? When asked to carry heavy responsibility, isn't the degree and quality of potential influence wielded through that opportunity measured by the attitude under which that responsibility is borne? How much of that precious resource is squandered simply because of a poor choice in attitude?
As one who influences with and without choice, the principles involved are critical. I have no "right" to choose wrongly. No matter what request is made of me by Him.
And yet, He must constantly remind me of that. He must constantly remind me, refine me, reprogram me so that every thought is truly a slave to Love. Love is not my first language. It's probably not even in the top three. But slowly, diligently, relentlessly my Comforter and Teacher remakes me into His Image.
This year, He asked me to focus on Blessing and Being. As the year winds down, it is amazing to reflect on the depth of His Faithful instruction in these things. Reminded, painfully reminded, of what used to be the "norm," the standard to which I strove to measure maturity of self, I am broken. How could that ever have been enough for one bearing His Name? How could it ever have been acceptable to be as unloving as what used to feel comfortable?
May next year find me in this same position as I look back on today. May it be that He has refined more and more dross, skimming it by whatever means and measures He desires. And may I count it all gain. All blessing.
All these blessings are mine because I am clothed in Him and He is working in me to bring glory to Himself. It is all about Him. May I receive them each with an open heart, completely trusting His Craftsmanship, never dictating the terms on which they will be received.
His Faithfulness is unwavering. He WILL accomplish His Purposes.
Will you testify of His Faithfulness, sharing with us what He has done for you? It can be something old, something new, something "earth shattering," or the tiniest whisper to your spirit. Testify. Write it down and add it to the Heritage of Faith He is writing for you, in you, for your family and the future generations. He IS showing Himself Faithful. Are we paying attention? Are we taking notes? We should. It's important. As we walk through this life, the evil one will try to cause us to forget what He has done for us. Write it down. Compile the stories. The sheer volume of the pages will testify for Him. And our faith will grow as we remember.
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