Have you ever changed the batteries in a flashlight by putting them in backward? Or have you ever tried to unlock a door by using the wrong key? Maybe you’ve inserted your credit/debit card incorrectly at a fuel pump…

If so, you know the outcome for all of those scenarios: nothing works.

And that’s the same with God’s set-in-motion principles found in His Word. As one of His children, if you choose to not follow His instructions, His commandments, then life isn’t going to work as well as He intends for you.

In Deuteronomy 28, we’re told:

“Now it shall be, if you diligently listen to and obey the voice of the Lord your God, being careful to do all of His commandments which I am commanding you today, the Lord your God will set you high above all the nations of the earth. All these blessings will come upon you and overtake you if you pay attention to the voice of the Lord your God.” (Deuteronomy 28:1-2 AMP).

And then Scripture lists His specific blessings for us and concludes that portion with:

The Lord will make you the head (leader) and not the tail (follower); and you will be above only, and you will not be beneath, if you listen and pay attention to the commandments of the Lord your God, which I am commanding you today, to observe them carefully. Do not turn aside from any of the words which I am commanding you today, to the right or to the left, to follow and serve other gods (Deuteronomy 28:13-14).

But the operative word is if…

If you put the flashlight’s batteries in correctly, if you use the right key to open the door, if you insert the credit/debit card the right way… Then, and only then, will each one of those items work. There is no other way. You could try, but you’d be wasting your time.

And if you choose to honor God by following His way of living, then He promises that certain blessings will find their way to you.

Really think about this: He wants to give you His blessings because He loves you. Your Father, the Creator of the whole universe, the One who has adopted you into His family through Jesus, longs to bless you! But He wants your obedience, and He wants that obedience to be out of your love for Him. He wants you to love Him enough that you gladly choose to do what He asks, understanding that He knows more than you do about every situation.

Once in a while, you might hear fellow believers say that they have done what He’s asked “but see no results.” But then the question becomes: how do you perceive God? Do you see Him as your Heavenly Father … or as your “genie”? If as your Father, then you will continue on, in His love, and wait for His perfect timing, even if it’s a timing you would not choose. Even if the blessings come in ways that you did not pray for. And even if some of those blessings might not be until heaven…

Father God, we choose to walk in Your ways. We love You and know that You’re working everything out for good. Our lives are in Your loving hands, and Your love for us will never end. We believe that everything You say is true, and so we thank You ahead of time for all the beautiful blessings You have in store for us in Your perfect timing, in Your perfect way! Amen.

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Scripture quotations are taken from the Amplified® Bible, Copyright © 2015 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission.