Have you read Psalm 139 recently? You should, it is so encouraging and brims with God’s love for us. Let’s look at some of what King David wrote for us in this Psalm. God knows us, our thoughts, and our words before we say them; he understands us and all we go through. He knows where we are, we cannot hide from him and he will never leave us or forsake us (Heb 13:5).

He formed us before we were born; we were: “fearfully and wonderfully made” (Ps 139:14; KJV). God designed a plan for each of our lives. We are his workmanship (Eph 2:10). Workmanship in that verse can be expanded to mean work of art or his poem. Our Father thinks only good for us: “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end” (Jer 29:11). God desires to hem us in and guide and direct us into all he has for us: “Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths” (Prov 3:5-6).

We need to still ourselves before God and hear his voice (Ps 46:10) so we can walk in his ways. His ways are perfect and only living the life he has for us will satisfy. We need to stop our strivings in the flesh, cast our cares on him (Peter 5:6-7), draw near to him (James 4:8) and allow his fullness (Eph 3:19) to flow through us. Now that’s abundant life (John 10:10).

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"Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life" (Ps 23:6; KJV). These are familiar words to most of us. Goodness in the Hebrew, in this verse, means something good, prosperity or happiness. Mercy refers to God’s great love and grace extended to us.

So, what would goodness and mercy include? I believe it would be all of God's blessings, such as love, forgiveness, guidance, provision, healing, protection and deliverance, to name just a few. The word follow is very interesting, it means to hunt or chase after; so, you could say that God will hunt us down to give us goodness and mercy.

“And all these blessings shall come on thee, and overtake thee, if thou shalt hearken unto the voice of the Lord thy God” (Deut. 28:2).  Yes, you read that correctly, the blessings from God will overtake us.  In the book of Proverbs chapter 10 and verse 6, we read that: "blessings are upon the head of the just" and similarly in the apostle Paul’s letter to the  Ephesians he wrote: "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed with all spiritual blessing in heavenly places in Christ" (Eph 1:3).

God obviously wants to bless us so get ready for God's blessings to chase after you today. However, for every promise of God there are always some requirements placed on us, he did say above that we should listen to him and presumably obey (Deut 28:2). We should also walk justly or in a God like manner (Prov 10:6).

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Matthew 6: 25-34 is a wonderful exhortation for us not to worry about our needs. God says look at the beauty and magnificence of my creation; the birds of the air and the lilies of the field, see how I created them and care for them. If God can do that how much more will he care for us. God says, you focus on me and being like me and pleasing me and I will take care of the provision.

God is not short on supplies for our provision. Everything on this earth belongs to God. “For every beast of the forest is mine, and the cattle upon a thousand hills” (Ps 50:10). “The silver is mine, and the gold is mine, saith the Lord of hosts” (Hag 2:8).

I like his instruction to us to leave the worry with him.

In 1 Peter 5:6-7 we are told to humble ourselves before God, cast our cares on him and he will care for us. Now this does not tell us to sit idly by and wait for God to provide; no, we are to work with our hands to provide our needs. In the apostle Paul’s second letter to the Thessalonians he wrote: “For even when we were with you, we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat” (2 Thess 3:10). But, if we trust God and do our part we don’t need to worry, we need to trust God that everything will be taken care of; ends will more than meet. Trust God, take the limits off of him; he will provide.

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I encourage you to look at 2 Corinthians, chapter 1 verses 3 through 7 today. In verses 3 and 4 the apostle Paul writes that God comforts us in all our tribulations, troubles, persecutions and the pressures that we come under daily. The Holy Spirit is the comforter, helper or one who pulls alongside to assist (John 14:26).

In the world we will have tribulation but God has overcome the powers of darkness in the world and we can walk victorious by faith (John 16:33). In the passage we are studying (2 Cor 1:3-7), we are assured that as we suffer tribulation and affliction, we WILL, as Christians, receive God’s comfort. In verse 4 of our text, Paul teaches us that as we receive comfort in tribulation, we can share this encouragement with others by teaching them the word and introducing them to the Holy Spirit, the comforter. Verse 6 of our text is very interesting. Paul basically doesn’t complain about his trials but rejoices in the comfort of the Holy Spirit. He also rejoices in the fact that his trials and the comfort God supplies, can serve as an example and encouragement to others. Wow, what a great attitude. In persecution and suffering Paul’s thoughts were more for others than for himself. Can we learn from this example?

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God told Abram that he would bless him and make of him a great nation; he also promised that through him everyone on the earth would be blessed (Gen 12:2-3). To be blessed in Old Testament writing meant to be blessed greatly or abundantly in all areas of life. Abraham had a close relationship with God and certainly grew to be great and immensely wealthy (Gen 24:35).

In the New Testament in Galatians chapter 3 and verses 13-14, Paul wrote that: “Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law (see Deut 28 for the curse), being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree: That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith” (KJV; Gal 3: 13-14).

The Gentiles are any the non-Jewish people. If you are a Christian and have given your life to Christ, then you are blessed with believing Abraham (Gal 3:9). Through Abraham's seed or lineage, came Jesus and in Jesus we have all the blessings of Abraham and so much more. Through Jesus we have forgiveness (Col 1:14), abundant life (John 10:10), healing (1 Peter 2:24), power and authority over all the works of satan (Matt 28:18). We were taken from darkness to God’s kingdom of light (Col 1:13); we walk in Christ’s victory (1 Cor 15:57).

Are you praising and thanking God yet?

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Check out our web site ( www.onthewayinlove.com ) for information on our book: “On the Way: Basic Christian Training”, including how to purchase it and also to see more encouraging Bible based blogs. Please recommend our book to others.