Building a Blessed Life

High-stress living and overburdened schedules are commonplace today, but that’s not God’s way. Too often, we chase blessings and call it seeking God, or we make idols of the good things God gives us and serve them instead of Him. Both of these sins leave us stressed and empty. God wants more for you!

Imagine your life as an empty glass jar. On the table before you are three large rocks, a large container of colorful pebbles, and several beakers of colored sand. You must add everything to the glass jar without shattering it. Do you know the simple principle that will make you successful?

You’ll need to maximize the capacity of the jar by putting the largest rocks in first – then everything else will fit. Your life is the same. Choose your priorities wisely, and everything falls into place. Fill your schedule with pebbles and sand, and your days will be packed, but your life will be empty.

Busyness is often the result of sin – rejecting God’s priorities like Adam and Eve did in the Garden of Eden. Just as sin shattered their paradise, it still shatters lives today. God created us with three basic needs – sin is simply a wrong attempt at meeting one of these priorities:

• Establishing a strong connection to God Himself, the Giver of Life (John 14:6)

• Living in the security of the Heavenly Father’s love (1 John 4:16)

• Pursuing your God-designed life purpose (Ephesians 2:10)

The only way to attend to our needs is to do as Jesus said, “Seek first the Kingdom of God” (Matthew 6:33). With these priorities addressed, everything else simply adds blessing and beauty to your life.

Are you ready to declutter your schedule and find the life you’ve been longing for? Ask God to help you answer the three questions below, and you will be on your way to a God-blessed life!

Are you trusting in anything other than Jesus to connect you to God?

Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind (John 1:3-4 NIV).

The very first priority in your life must be your relationship with God, and Jesus is the connector! Until our hearts rest in Jesus, we feel an empty restlessness. Establishing the bond of love between you and your Father requires accepting the work of Jesus Christ on the cross.

Are you living in God’s love, enjoying the sweetness of the Spirit or being dragged away by other concerns?

The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Galatians 5:22-23 ESV).

Being connected to God is different from living fully in His presence and enjoying Him. Receiving Jesus as Savior restores your connection to God, but living in His presence is a moment-by-moment choice you must make.

What does your mission from God look like?

Jesus answered them, “My Father has been working until now, and I have been working” (John 5:17).

Work was not a curse from the fall of man – it is the privilege of imitating the Creator and the Savior! God designed you to do many things – discovering those details is your privilege and responsibility.

Abundant Life

Friend, I look forward to hearing how God changes your life as you focus on answering these questions. I know He has good plans for you (Jeremiah 29:11), and you will discover those plans by prioritizing your connection to Him, increasing your confidence in Him and pursuing your commitment to serve Him!