To complete the series on knowing your gift, please consider the following for self-search!

“How can you tell if something is a blessing, a gift from God – or just another one of the enemy’s counterfeits fuelled by self?

1. Be honest about your motives and agenda. Tell the truth – especially to yourself. We may be able to fool people around us, but we cannot fool God. This set Gideon apart; the cogitations of his heart singled him out for God’s attention!  Back to a real example of our days, Is the prayer, “Lord, I want to win the lottery so I can help others”, truly honest? Have you helped others with what you already have – time, resources, a kind word? What’s the real deal? Isn’t this covetousness and anxiety to be wealthy?  God searches and knows our heart. Ask Him to reveal any selfish, hidden motives in you (Psalm 139:23-24). Repent and commit to aligning your will and desires with His. Therein will lie His blessings for you.
2. Know that every good and perfect gift comes from God. When God blesses us, the gift will never turn on us (James 1:17).  For in God, there is no “variableness” or “shadow of turning”.  God’s nature toward His gifts will never change, neither will the goodness within the gift. The blessings God gives are perfect – complete and whole. You never have to worry about God being an Indian giver.  His blessings are predestined and eternal.
3. God’s gifts add no sorrow. When God blesses you, it does no harm, no damage to your life or relationships (Proverbs 10:22). His blessings will richly add – not subtract – to your life spiritually, emotionally, mentally – not just financially. You will not be named among the many depressed and miserable millionaires and billionaires. The goal of God’s blessings is to prosper your soul for a wealthy legacy of godly living.
4. God’s love is greater than our earthly fathers. Many of us have experienced great love from our Dads. Yet, even the best earthly fathers are still sinners who need the saving grace of Jesus Christ. If our flawed fathers know how to give good gifts to their children, would our perfect, heavenly Father ever fall short (Matthew 7:11)? Nonsense! God loves us more than anyone else could ever imagine. He demonstrates His love by giving us His best.
5. God gifts us with unanswered prayer – be grateful! No good thing will He withhold from you (Psalm 84:11). So, if you don’t receive it, keep it, have it – it wasn’t good for you. Be grateful for every one of God’s loving No’s.  Give thanks that He cares enough for us to not allow our begging and pleading for something that would destroy us to come to pass. It won’t feel good on the front end, but when God reveals what would’ve been – whew! Thank you, Lord!

So, What’s the Play Call? Trust God’s choice blessings over what you think you need or want. Allow the joy of the Lord – what brings God joy – to be your strength, your hope, your pursuit (Nehemiah 8:10).  When you do, you will never have to experience the regret and decay of a blessing gone bad. So, be truly blessed!”—Taken from Team Jesus Magazine

Shalom.



Pastor Afolabi Oladele