Remaining Postured for Blessing…
There is a phrase that I use frequently when I write that I would like to elaborate on today. It is, “Remain postured for blessing”.
I’m sure there are some who have taken that at face value within the context it was written but never really considered what the depth of the statement actually includes. Throughout scripture there are conditional statements that, if followed, are the pre-requisite to fulfillment of the scripture or the promise. For instance, we understand the foundational requirements for salvation by reading Romans chapter 10 verses 9-12
9That if you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved. 11As the Scripture says, “Anyone who trusts in him will never be put to shame.”[e] 12For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile—the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him, 13for, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”
By this scripture we understand that it is by confession and faith that we are saved and we are assured that when we call upon the name of the Lord our salvation is solidified. So, under those circumstances it would also be safe to assume that a failure to submit to the “if you” could jeopardize the fulfillment of the promise…
In this same way, there are THOUSANDS of promises in the bible spanning multitudes of issues, trials and difficulties. Many of these scriptural promises ARE conditional. For instance, James chapter 1 addresses seeking God for wisdom…
If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. 6But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. 7That man should not think he will receive anything from the Lord; 8he is a double-minded man, unstable in all he does.
So, if we are lacking wisdom in life, we should “ASK God” and also stand in faith on our prayer to God that He will give us the answers that we seek… By this scripture we understand that to simply “ask” is not the “end” of the work. We have even further understanding of what it means to “ask” when we couple it with Matthew 7:7 (I like the amplified version of this scripture because it translates with more emphasis and clarity)
7Keep on asking and it will be given you; keep on seeking and you will find; keep on knocking [reverently] and [the door] will be opened to you. 8For everyone who keeps on asking receives; and he who keeps on seeking finds; and to him who keeps on knocking, [the door] will be opened.
Remaining “postured for blessing” is often a deliberate effort of finding out what the Word of God says about our circumstances, how it applies to us and the conditions upon when it is applied.
Recognizing that there are things that I can do that may block or hinder Gods ability to bless me, the absolute first step I take when considering whether or not I am posturing myself properly is to consider Matthew 6:33. The entire chapter of Matthew 6 addresses “provision for life’s issues and concerns” and verse 33 poses the pre-requisite…
33But seek (aim at and strive after) first of all Gods kingdom and His righteousness (His way of doing and being right), and then all these things taken together will be given you besides.
This scripture addresses the aspect of striving after God’s leadership in our lives and consciously doing what we know to be right, and furthermore “being right” spiritually by first of all receiving Christ and then allowing the character of Christ in us to be displayed outwardly. This is the foundation for blessing!
I believe, according to extensive study of scripture, that when we receive salvation, it is not simply a “sin” work but is an ALL INCLUSIVE WORK! Meaning, when Jesus died for freedom from sin, He also accomplished freedom from every evil work that is set against us.
According to Isaiah 53:5 and 1 Peter 2:24, when our sin was taken upon Jesus, so was our sickness and disease…so when our sin was purchased, so was our healing! According to the same scripture, so was our Peace! And as we line our lives up with the Word of God, we posture ourselves to receive from God, or maybe better put get ourselves out of the way so that God is free to do what He has always desired to do for us.
I am in no way speaking of “self-righteousness”. The bible is very clear that “trying to be good enough does not impress God”…God loves us not because of who we are, but because of who He is…But God has instituted “laws” (if you will) concerning HOW He can do things, and WHEN. These are what I am referring to as the pre-requisites above…What I am attempting to explain is that once we have received the righteousness of Christ through salvation, and we are in “right standing with God BECAUSE of the work that Christ has done in us”, at that point God sees us differently. After salvation is accomplished there is NOTHING we can do to be MORE saved! Christ did it ALL! BUT there are things that we can do (or not do) that may hinder God’s ability to do “MORE” in our lives according to scripture.
We can choose to place ourselves in positions that may not cost us our eternal relationship with God but might cost us the ability to receive from Him! It’s kind of like placing a bucket under the water nozzle. We know if we keep the bucket where the water is able to flow into it, then the bucket will be filled to it’s capacity. However, if you move the bucket or do something that might hinder the flow of the water or bust a hole in the side of the bucket…Naturally, receiving the water into the bucket is not going to happen… This is what I am referring to when I say “Remaining Postured for Blessing”.
My encouragement to anyone who is reading this and wanting to know how to get through whatever circumstance they are dealing with is to first find out what the Bible says about whatever is coming against you. This is a prime way of “Seeking first the Kingdom of God or otherwise interpreted, God’s way of doing things”. Then stand upon those scriptures and the instruction in them. Line your life up with the Word of God and the promise is that, ALL OTHER THINGS WILL BE ADDED UNTO YOU!…
Ultimately, God LOVES YOU! He wants great things for you in your life! And if we will Remain Postured for Blessing, then when the season is right, we will receive the promise. Sometimes it comes immediately and sometimes it takes time…sometimes a seemingly long time… Still, I encourage you to remain postured for blessing so that, when YOUR time is right, God can do the work in you and through you that He created you for!
Be encouraged, God IS faithful!
If you can dig it, Say WORD!
