[ Adeodata's Heart] Blessings...

[RT]

Several years ago, I was challenged to memorize an entire chapter of the Bible. I didn't want to accomplish it for the sake of accomplishment, but allow it to address and transform a specific deficiency in my life. I was suffering from a serious case of condemnation. My sense of worth was a constant battleground for the devil's attacks and my refusal to completely believe, receive, and act like I was more than a conqueror, the bride of Christ, fearfully and wonderfully made, blessed with abundance, peace, joy and favor! These attacks came in various forms, a comparison to other Christian women, memories of past sin, and incomplete spiritual checklists. Resultantly, a discreet despair began to mark my life, a sense that I could never measure up to the sacrifice Jesus made when He died on the cross in exchange for my life. Sick and tired of my walk looking more like a wobble because I believed the damning lies of, ultimately, the LOSER, and my own self made rules and regulations, I began a journey of focusing on and memorizing the blessings promised by the WINNER.

Drawn to the psalmist's celebration of God's blessings for the righteous, I overcame all the excuses why chapter memorization was impossible for my old brain, and hid Psalm 112 in my heart. It, along with God's countless other truths about those who follow Him, has and continues to transform my life. For the believer, condemnation, defined as having a sense of a "damnatory sentence" in Strong's Concordance, has been dealt a deadly blow by the blood of our risen King! The truth is, we have been sentenced to abundant life here on earth and forevermore in God's Kingdom of Heaven.  

Over the next several weeks, I'd like to take a closer look at the blessings of God outlined in Psalm 112 in hopes that we embrace and live out the abundance that is ours to keep!

Psalm 112

New International Version 1984 (NIV1984)

Psalm 112[a]

1 Praise the Lord.[b]

Blessed is the man who fears the Lord,

    who finds great delight in his commands.

2 His children will be mighty in the land;

    the generation of the upright will be blessed.

3 Wealth and riches are in his house,

    and his righteousness endures forever.

4 Even in darkness light dawns for the upright,

    for the gracious and compassionate and righteous man.[c]

5 Good will come to him who is generous and lends freely,

    who conducts his affairs with justice.

6 Surely he will never be shaken;

    a righteous man will be remembered forever.

7 He will have no fear of bad news;

    his heart is steadfast, trusting in the Lord.

8 His heart is secure, he will have no fear;

    in the end he will look in triumph on his foes.

9 He has scattered abroad his gifts to the poor,

    his righteousness endures forever;

    his horn[d] will be lifted high in honor.

10 The wicked man will see and be vexed,

    he will gnash his teeth and waste away;

    the longings of the wicked will come to nothing.

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Posted By RT to Adeodata's Heart at 10/05/2012 08:53:00 AM