Deuteronomy 29:19
“A person … invokes a blessing on himself and therefore thinks, ‘I will be safe, even though I persist in going my own way.’ This will bring disaster …”
You cannot bless yourself and then live the way you want to. If your blessing is only an echo it is empty, even dangerous.
Imagine this. You teeter at the edge of a cliff about to jump to your certain death but first you shout across the valley: “You are mighty, you are strong, jump and live”. Then you wait for the echo. If you believe that echo, you will die. Blessing yourself is just like that.
Positive thinking can be a great thing but it has significant (and severe) limits. On the up side, it can build your self esteem, grow your capacity and improve your productivity. It is wise to be positive. But, you can’t use a positive attitude to defy God.
A blessing from beyond, on the other hand, is magnificent!
God wants to bless you! He can speak hope and promise over your life. His intentions for you are good. He is love.
God’s blessings have requirements. He wants us to live right. But these ethics concern the “gravity” of wrong living which we cannot defy by simply blessing ourselves. Positive thinkers who jump off cliffs have the same odds as pessimists! God wants to help us negotiate “cliffs” and his commands are a part of his blessing.
God speaks his blessing often. His voice is gentle and quiet. He tells the truth. As you read the bible, listen for his word of grace to you. Stop believing all the echoes of the age. Stop blessing yourself and become attentive for God.
Listen to this. “The Lord has declared this day that you are his people, his treasured possession … he has declared that he will set you in praise, fame and honour …” (Deut. 26:18-19). These are God’s words of covenant promise to all who follow and obey.
Here is a blessing you can trust. It is not an echo. Receive it, obey God and jump boldly into your life.
Questions
- What words of blessing have most encouraged you?
- Where do you turn for blessing?
- Please leave a comment.
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Thanks, Allan, for the encouragement to live right and to keep God's commands. Positive thinking helps when living on earth, while keeping His commands has eternal impact.
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