Offering Grace: Don't Miss The Blessings

Do you ever struggle with feeling like you are invisible? Do you feel, at times, like you do not matter and that nobody cares?

I often find myself struggling with feeling like I am invisible and that I do not matter. Do you know what I am learning, though? I am learning that whenever these thoughts enter my mind, I am under attack.

I try to live in a way that I feel the Lord is wanting me to live and it is getting someone's attention. This let's me know that I am doing something right.

However, I do have to confess, sometimes it is easier to just wallow in the negative feelings than it is to refocus my thoughts. It is often hard to pull myself out of the dark pit.

Let's look at Genesis 26:1-6 and see how the Lord blesses Isaac.

Genesis 26:1-6 NIV

Now there was a famine in the land—besides the previous famine in Abraham’s time—and Isaac went to Abimelek king of the Philistines in Gerar. The Lord appeared to Isaac and said, “Do not go down to Egypt; live in the land where I tell you to live. Stay in this land for a while, and I will be with you and will bless you. For to you and your descendants I will give all these lands and will confirm the oath I swore to your father Abraham. I will make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and will give them all these lands, and through your offspring all nations on earth will be blessed, because Abraham obeyed me and did everything I required of him, keeping my commands, my decrees and my instructions.” So Isaac stayed in Gerar.

In these verses, we see that there is a famine and Isaac wants to go where he can find food. However, the Lord appears to him and tells him to stay where he is and that He, the Lord, will personally be with him and will bless him and his descendants. He promises to bless Isaac's descendants so that they are as numerous as the stars in the sky. He promises that through Isaac's offspring all nations on earth will be blessed because Abraham obeyed Him and followed His instructions.

When life starts to weigh you down, I would like to encourage you to find three positive things to focus on. When you find these three things, stop and write down what they are and offer thanks to the Lord for each one. Try this for several days/weeks to see if your focus changes.

Blessings/Gratitude/Praise that I am focusing on today:

I am the daughter of the King (Romans 817-19 NIV)
My youngest traveled downtown, last night, and returned home safely
Being able to watch the birds come up to our feeders

Prayer:

Dear Father,

Thank you for all that you continue to do. Please forgive me for the times that I choose to wallow in negativity instead of trusting you. Father, I pray that you will open your floodgates and pour out your blessings upon me as you did with Abraham, Isaac and their descendants. Please help me to always be able to slow down enough to see your blessings and to offer you praise for each one. I pray that your will be done. In Jesus' name, Amen.