We have now entered the season of Lent. For many Christians, Lent is taken as a time of preparation for the celebration of Easter where God miraculously redeemed mankind by resurrecting His Son from the dead. It is also a time to consider what Jesus said and did; and how we should be living in light of His Words. ✞ ♥
During this season, here on the Seeking Him devotional blog, we have chosen to focus our devotionals on Jesus’ instructions and admonition communicated in Matthew chapter 6—the Beatitudes. Jesus said, “Blessed are…” and He went on to give instruction as to how to be “blessed.” To be ‘blessed’ is to ‘be happy, or to be envied.’ Truly for the Christian, we ARE blessed—oh, how very blessed we are! Those who observe our lives should clearly be able to tell that we ARE blessed—and that we KNOW it! ✞ ♥
Please consider Jesus’ instructions along with us. We pray that our words will encourage you and spur you on to be prepare your hearts for the joyous celebration of His Resurrection! ✞ ♥
God blesses those who are poor and realize their need for Him, for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs.
Matthew 5:3
I typically stay away from the Message Translation of the Bible, but on occasion I do find it useful. Matthew 5:3 reads like this.
You’re blessed when you’re at the end of your rope.
With less of you there is more of God and His rule.
How true this is. When I am not covering up an issue or trying to put my hands to solving a problem rather than trust God, I am making room for God. Where there is no room for God, you’ve crowded Him out—very likely with yourself.
It’s first nature for me to want to fix something, reason through something, and come to my own conclusions. But now I’ve gotten quicker at putting the brakes on and turning to God. Usually, but not always, before I’m at the end of my rope. (Sometimes though I even get well past the end of my rope and still haven’t made room for God.)
I’ve always wondered why I keep doing this same thing…when in the end I know I always turn to God. Part of me just wants to be so self-sufficient. Who I’m trying to impress or prove something to is beyond me. Habits take time to change. Before I was saved I’d try to figure it all out, and sometimes I simply forget that God is always present in every situation.
When I read this verse in the Beatitudes, the first story in the Bible that came to mind was of Elijah and the widow at Zarephath; her story is told in 1 King 17:8-24. What stuck out the most to me was in verse 12. This foreign woman, who is likely not a believer, swears by God and says to the prophet,
As the Lord your God lives, I have no bread,
only a handful of flour in the bowl and a little oil in the jar;
and behold, I am gathering a few sticks that I may go in
and prepare for me and my son, that we may eat it and die.
She was transparent. She didn’t try to save face or figure something out, she didn’t offer what little she had and then hope for the best. She admitted her lack…and the Lord stepped in. She moved out of the way and unknowingly made room for God.
Move out of the way and give God some elbow room. You don’t need so much space. I mean, we are talking about the Creator of the universe after all! (He’s pretty big, you know.)
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Lord, more of You and less of me. This is my prayer daily. In a society where “me” is the number one priority it can be difficult remembering that You, Lord, ARE number one. Keep me focused. Thank you, Lord! In Jesus’ name, Amen.
