Corona Devo 861

Who are our Business role models/Academic examples/Exercise/Athletic heroes?  We study their success and methods in achieving, don't we?  

Then why wouldn't we do the same with the men and women whose stories are threaded through the Bible?  The only difference between us and them is time (passed) and outcome.  

If we read David's writings in the Book of Psalms...and relate...and seek to live for the Lord as he did...then we can trust his example...and mimic it.  And be filled with joy.

Did you know David asked God to bless him?  And his children?  And his resources, harvests, business, and his sales/production/output?

In prayer to the Lord, David asked God, using bold words like "flourish", "filled", "multiply" ("by the thousands, even tens of thousands"),  and "loaded down".   Those are big "asks", aren't they?  

Sound selfish, capitalistic, or too "me"-focused for someone that proclaims to be a Believer?  It would be if we were only in it for us.  But if living-for-God and serving-God is truly our heart's desire, then we can be emboldened to ask the God of the universe to bless us.

In conversation with God, David unashamedly asked the Lord to protect him, his "people", his properties, and his city.  We too can ask God's protection over all of these things in our lives.

May our sons flourish in their youth like well-nurtured plants.  May our daughters be like graceful pillars, carved to beautify a palace.  

(13) May our barns be filled with crops of every kind.  May the flocks in our fields multiply by the thousands, even tens of thousands, 

(14) and may our oxen be loaded down with produce.  May there be no enemy breaking through our walls, no going into captivity, no cries of alarm in our town squares. 

(15) Yes, joyful are those who live like this!  Joyful indeed are those whose God is the Lord.  ~Psalm 144:12-15

~~~

We have our roles.

We must feed, water, work, invest for God's will and outcomes in our lives.  It's our job to do our job...for ourselves, our families, our futures.  But, in coupling with our efforts, and in (receiving) words-of-promise from our Lord and the Bible...we can also pray to our Lord for His blessing over our lives and efforts.

It's okay to ask for God's blessing.  And more than that...it's okay to ask for God's bounty in our lives: May our barns be filled with crops of every kind.  May the flocks in our fields multiply by the thousands, even tens of thousands, (14) and may our oxen be loaded down with produce.  ~Psalm 144:13-14

It's okay to ask for God's protection over us and our livelihoods:  May there be no enemy breaking through our walls, no going into captivity, no cries of alarm in our town squares.   ~Psalm 144:14

And what becomes of a life being lived for Him?  What can we expect when we lay-it-all-out for the Lord?  Not perfection.  Not all-sunshine-and-no-rain.  Not utopia.  But for the days we spend here on earth, being spent for Him and His glory...there can be joy.   Yes, joyful are those who live like this!  Joyful indeed are those whose God is the Lord.  ~Psalm 144:15

The joy of the Lord?  That's worth boldly asking for.  

Are we joyful today?  Could we be?  

Ask.  

We can (and have Biblical precedent for doing so!) go to the Lord in prayer today and ask, using bold words like "flourish", "filled", "multiply" ("by the thousands, even tens of thousands"),  and "loaded down".   

These are big "asks", but we have a big God.   

Just as David unashamedly asked the Lord to protect him, his "people", his properties, and his city.  We too can ask God's protection over all of these things in our lives.

So go ahead, it's okay.  Ask.

Yes, joyful are those who live like this!  Joyful indeed are those whose God is the Lord.  ~Psalm 144:15

P.S. Thank you to those in our lives who boldly ask God's blessings over us.  To be lifted in prayer by someone who loves you is perhaps the most intimate gift we can receive.  Thank you to the angels that keep me/my family/my kids/"barns"/"flocks" upheld in prayer of protection and bounty.  You will never know the blessing you are to us!

Blessings,

sarah

https://sarahsundy04.blogspot.com

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