The Blessing Begins Here

The first and most important key to living a blessed life is to always put God first in everything. God should be first in our thoughts, conversations, priorities, and the way we spend our time. When we put God in first place, He makes everything better! When we get to know God and develop an intimate relationship with Him, it fills our lives with His hope and joy…even in the midst of difficulties and when our circumstances aren’t perfect.

The greatest way to get to know God is through His Word. In fact, when we spend time in His Word, we are spending time with Him (John 1:1). When we feel weak, discouraged or overwhelmed, God’s Word has the ability to lift us up and fill us with hope. Just like we go to a filling station when our car runs out of gas, I often view my time in God’s Word like stopping at a “Holy Ghost filling station.” When life has worn me down and sapped my strength, I can go to His Word to get “filled up” again.

You see, God’s Word renews our minds and brings us peace (Romans 12:2). When we reflect on His promises and the good plans He has for us, it literally revives our spirit and fills us with hope and expectation.

God’s Word also strengthens us to keep going, not give up, and not give in to temptation. The truth is, we need God’s strength just to do what’s right. I wake up some days and don’t really feel like being very nice. But after spending time in the Word, the Lord gives me the strength and desire to walk in love and treat people properly.

There is a way to feel strong and content even when things aren’t going our way, and it all begins with spending time with God. As we read and study His Word and then do what it tells us to do, it leads to a blessed life. God’s ways are always best, and everything He instructs us to do in His Word is always for our own benefit. He tells us what we need to know so things will work out well for us and lead us into a life full of His blessings.

Look at what 1 Kings 2:3 (NIV) says: Observe what the Lord your God requires: Walk in obedience to him, and keep his decrees and commands, his laws and regulations, as written in the Law of Moses. Do this so that you may prosper in all you do and wherever you go.

When I first began my relationship with Jesus, I had more problems than I could count. But as I began to read and study His Word, then apply what I learned, things began to change. It didn’t happen overnight, but little by little, God changed me from being weak, broken, and discouraged to someone who is now blessed, hopeful, and strong. He has caused me to “prosper”—spiritually, mentally and emotionally. Maybe best of all, God helped me to enjoy myself and my life all along the way…even while I was still “under construction.”

If you want to have a blessed life, even in the midst of the difficulties around you, it all begins here. I encourage you to begin setting aside some time with God to read His Word and talk to Him in prayer—even if you begin with just 15 minutes a day. As you do, you’ll start to experience God’s joy and strength when you least expect it, and you’ll develop a relationship with God that you won’t want to live without.

Adapted from the book The Blessed in the Mess by Joyce Meyer. Copyright 2023 by Joyce Meyer. Published by Hachette Book Group, Inc. All rights reserved.