Imagine if you can being paralyzed from birth. Never having the chance to learn to walk as everyone else does. Not being able to go where you want to go when you want to go but always relying on others to take you. Always being lower than everyone else. Never being able to work or even start a family because you can’t provide. Now imagine gaining the ability to walk and to do everything you never were able to before. Where is the first place you would think to go after receiving such a blessing?
For many of us, that is hard to imagine but that is the life one man in the Bible lived. In an instant, he gained the ability to do all the things he always dreamed of but never could. He could now go to the places he had heard of but never seen because he could find no one to take him. But the first thing he did wasn’t something he had long dreamed or nor did he travel to a far of place. Instead, the first place he went after receiving his blessing was into the presence of the Lord who had blessed him.
Acts 3:6–8 (ESV)
6 But Peter said, “I have no silver and gold, but what I do have I give to you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk!” 7 And he took him by the right hand and raised him up, and immediately his feet and ankles were made strong. 8 And leaping up, he stood and began to walk, and entered the temple with them, walking and leaping and praising God.
He did not immediately use his blessing to serve himself or do something he would find pleasing. No, he used the blessing he had received to praise the Lord. There is so much he could have done but first he knew the importance of thanking God for what he had received.
So often we are quick to pray for a blessing. To ask God to move in a mighty way in our life. But it is rare that we first turn to God seeking His presence upon being blessed. More often than not we simply take our blessing and run to use it in the ways we have dreamed for so long. But by doing so we neglect and even dishonor the God who blessed us. Instead, we should be like this man and put our own wants aside to first take our blessing before the Lord with a praise on our lips.
This man is not alone in turning to God first altering being blessed. Daniel did the very same thing in the Old Testament. He was blessed by God with the interpretation of the King’s dream. But even though he was on a tight deadline to save his life and that of the other wise men of the land he first sought the presence of God. Thanking the Lord for blessing Him in such a way.
Daniel 2:19–24 (ESV)
19 Then the mystery was revealed to Daniel in a vision of the night. Then Daniel blessed the God of heaven. 20 Daniel answered and said:
“Blessed be the name of God forever and ever,
to whom belong wisdom and might.
21 He changes times and seasons;
he removes kings and sets up kings;
he gives wisdom to the wise
and knowledge to those who have understanding;
22 he reveals deep and hidden things;
he knows what is in the darkness,
and the light dwells with him.
23 To you, O God of my fathers,
I give thanks and praise,
for you have given me wisdom and might,
and have now made known to me what we asked of you,
for you have made known to us the king’s matter.”
24 Therefore Daniel went in to Arioch, whom the king had appointed to destroy the wise men of Babylon. He went and said thus to him: “Do not destroy the wise men of Babylon; bring me in before the king, and I will show the king the interpretation.”
When we finally get the answer we have been seeking in prayer we don’t need to rush off to use it right away. Instead, we need to first turn back to God seeking to be in His presence. Just like the one man of ten who was heralded of leprosy by Jesus. He found that he was healed and didn’t continue on his way to do all he couldn’t do before as a leper but first sought the presence of the Lord.
Luke 17:12–16 (ESV)
12 And as he entered a village, he was met by ten lepers, who stood at a distance 13 and lifted up their voices, saying, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us.” 14 When he saw them he said to them, “Go and show yourselves to the priests.” And as they went they were cleansed. 15 Then one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, praising God with a loud voice; 16 and he fell on his face at Jesus’ feet, giving him thanks. Now he was a Samaritan.
The church should strive to be like these men of old who had their priorities in order. They didn’t place their blessing above the God who gave it to them but showed the Lord they were more thankful for Him they were the simple blessings they received. All by seeking God first and using their blessing second.
I can’t know what everyone who reads this article will be going through but I do be, I’ve God can move in your situation. When He does seek first to be in His presence. Whether that means going straight to your church, falling right there on your knees in prayer, or lifting your hands in praise of the God who blessed you. Then go one to use your blessing after giving God the honor He is worthy of.
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