Preparing for the Blessings!

Let me begin by stating that I have never been one to seek God for His blessings only. He is much more than a gift giver and bill payer to me. He is the one who gave His Son... and then He is the one who gave His Life... and He then went to prepare an eternal home for me but sent The Comforter to be with me. If He never gave us anything more than forgiveness, it would be enough.

So, having said that, let me also say that I took that belief a little to the extreme over the years. I asked God for things. And that's it. I never believed that I deserved what I asked for or that God even wanted to bless me. This resulted in me feeling so inadequate compared to others. I didn't understand how they could ask for something from God and then receive it. God was too busy saving the lost to bless me, right? And wouldn't it be so greedy of me to ask more of Him?

Lately, I have greatly doubted my ability as a photographer and mother. And God birthed in me what I shared as my Facebook status today,

"God has been teaching me to be actively preparing for Him to answer my prayers. So often I pray and never do anything else. It's like a garden, you can plant the seed & take care of it, but if you aren't preparing for a place to store the goods, then what are you going to do with the harvest? I'm preparing my life for the answers that are coming my way!... and thank you, God for all your blessings."

I realized that God wants to bless me and bless in my OBEDIENCE! Not in my disobedience, but OBEDIENCE! Deuteronomy 28:1-6 says,

"1 If you fully obey the LORD your God and carefully follow all his commands I give you today, the LORD your God will set you high above all the nations on earth.
2 All these blessings will come on you and accompany you if you obey the LORD your God:
3 You will be blessed in the city and blessed in the country.
4 The fruit of your womb will be blessed, and the crops of your land and the young of your livestock—the calves of your herds and the lambs of your flocks.
5 Your basket and your kneading trough will be blessed.
6 You will be blessed when you come in and blessed when you go out."

What? He WANTS to bless me... He said it in His Word! Yes, I know, I'm so late to jump on this idea, but it amazes me. I still feel so unworthy of His blessings, but I realize that without them, I cannot let His light shine from my life. He gives me these blessings to reach others.... my children, the lost, the broken, the needy, and yes, even those who think they have it all figured out.

Take this scripture and read it carefully,

Matthew 7:7 – 8 (ESV)
Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened.

What do you do when you ask God for something? Does it stop at asking? Or do you seek after it, knock on the doors?

Listen to what the Lord says to the Israelites in II Kings,

2 Kings 3:16-18 “And he said, "Thus says the LORD: ’Make this valley full of ditches.’ For thus says the LORD: ’You shall not see wind, nor shall you see rain; yet that valley shall be filled with water, so that you, your cattle, and your animals may drink.’ And this is a simple matter in the sight of the LORD...

It seemed so ignorant to dig ditches where it was dry. They were supposed to be fighting a battle not digging and preparing for water! Are you fighting when you are supposed to be preparing for the blessing that God has promised? I sit here right now, multi-tasking, working on my business. God birthed something in my heart about this business... I need to prepare for what God is about to pour out. How can I receive the blessings of more clients if I'm not even ready? Why would God give me more, when I'm not even ready for what I have? I have been working feverishly on updating my site, my blog, and my scheduling, as well as finding a studio location. I AM PREPARING FOR THE HARVEST!!!! I believe that God will allow the water to flow through my life so much so that this water will be enough to fight my battle for me and wash away my enemies as well as bless me in this desert!

I am also believing God for a better life for my family... I am preparing!  Matt and I are preparing a plan for getting out of debt. We are preparing for those to come to us that need help... I am digging my ditches. I am not worried about my enemies... I am worried about digging my ditches... God will take care of those who are against Him and my family! I will no longer believe the lie of the devil when he tells me my work is not worth paying for, that my kids deserve a better mother, that we will never have more than we have now.... I will NOT believe Him! I WILL believe the promises of my Father!... I am preparing for those promises He is sending my way. I am not ashamed to ask Him for things! He wants to bless me! I will use those blessings for Him. I WILL use those blessings for Him!