Defeated. That’s exactly how I’ve felt for the past…oh…let’s call it 2 months and probably longer if I was honest. I was disgusted, disappointed, disgruntled and a whole of of other negative words. (Is there a “gruntled”? Maybe it’s like “overwhelmed,” but not “whelmed.” I’m gonna let it go and move on.) So in my prayer time, I would whine to God about how awful this planet was, how hard, and how ugly. I’d tell Him that I couldn’t wait for Him to rescue us all and how happy we’d be when He did. I don’t know if God has a “rubber face” like I do, but if He does, then He’s surely better able to contain His head shake and eyeroll at me. Or maybe He doesn’t. “Lorrrrrrd, why did he die? Lorrrrrrd, what in this free world are You doing?? Why can’t You help me get it together? Why are people so mean to each other?” just to name a few.
And while I’m trying to pick a Bible study to refresh my brain, Looooorrrrd knows I need it, I’m flipping through Deuteronomy and come across chapter 28, verse 7. “The Lord will cause your enemies who rise against you to be defeated before you.” So as it turns out, I’m not the one who’s supposed to feel defeated.
Now let me just preface this with I’m not a big fan of the Old Testament (yeah, I said it Gertie). Anytime there are mentions of foreskins in a pile somewhere, I’m a little um, well, let’s just say I have enough trouble applying some of the more direct life lessons. Are y’all googlin’ that? It’s in 1 Samuel 18. EEK!
Back to Deuteronomy 28, He’s talking about blessings for obedience. So if you’re like me, I don’t like the word “obedience.” It kinda ruffles my fur and I picture my dog with her mohawk sticking straight up when something’s not quite right on the homefront. Obedience and submission. Ew. 2 words that make my rubber face cringe. I may never get this written…
“IF you faithfully obey the voice of the Lord your God, being careful to do all his commandments that I command you today, the Lord your God will set you high above all the nations of the earth.” Not only are you blessed everywhere, but the blessings will overtake you.
Blessings these days, in 2024, look a little different in my head (imagine that). I’m going to have to think on what each of these equate to in this day:
The fruit of my womb, fruit of my ground, and fruit of my cattle, increasing my herd and the young of my flock, a blessed basket, and a blessed kneading bowl, a blessed barn, all that I undertake; I’m called holy, His people, and everyone will know it, I’ll abound in prosperity, all within the land that the Lord swore to give me. He’ll open his “good treasury” the heavens, to give me rain in its season and to bless all the work of my hands. I’ll be lending, not borrowing. I’m the head, not the tail. I’ll keep going up, not down. IF I obey the commandments of the Lord my God, being careful to DO them, and to not get distracted (LORD!) by other gods at the right or left.
I’m praying all kinds of God’s blessings for you today in Jesus’ name, know that.
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