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Psalms 112:1-3 says ‘Blessed is the man that fears the Lord and delight greatly in God’s commandments. His seed shall be mighty upon earth: his generation shall be blessed. Wealth and riches shall be in his house: and his righteousness shall endureth forever.’
DAILY READING; Luke 22:1-38; Genesis 39; Psalm 30
Johann Christoph Blumhardt was a renowned German pastor in the 19th century.
Early in life it was revealed to him that his life was to be used by God. And so while growing up he had fear and reverence of God and later attended a school of theology. There, he sought to live holy, often studied the Bible and followed the lives of reformation leaders, such as Martin Luther.
After graduation, he eventually worked as a pastor in the small town of Möttlingen, in southern Germany.
As he persevered in fervently seeking God, miracles and healings soon began to occur in his parish. One day a mother came running to Blumhardt because she had spilled a pot of boiling oatmeal on her three year old child. The child was screaming in pain, and covered with burns. Blumhardt picked up the child and prayed. All pain immediately ceased and the burns were gone within days. The occurrence of such miracles began drawing many people to Blumhardt, to receive prayer for their sicknesses. This led to a revival in Blumhardt’s parish and there were many healings, conversions and radical transformations of lives.
However, the government and some church leaders looked upon these miracles with disfavor. At the beginning of 1846 the government demanded that Blumhardt stopped praying for people to be healed and should rather direct them to the medical profession. Blumhardt’s heart was broken, that he was not allowed to pray for people who came with their needs.
Eventually, he decided to obey God rather than men and so he left the town and started his own ministry in the town of Bad Boll in Germany. Here, people began to flock to his ministry and were regularly healed. God’s power was mightily displayed. His ministry of healing and deliverance paved the way for many other ministries to follow. He is respected as a forerunner of the Divine Healing Movement in Germany.
Indeed great faith is the product of great fights. Great triumphs can only come from great trials. If we are going to achieve anything great in life, we must learn to fear God rather than fear men.
We cannot allow men’s opinions stop us from doing what God has called us to do. When we fear God, we will elevate His will above what people may say or think of us.
When your life is making a positive impact on men, the devil would often look for ways to hinder your progress by raising oppositions. But no matter what comes your way, always make the decision to please God rather than please men.
Regardless of their attacks, men cannot limit what God has purposed to do in your life. Anyone who fights against God’s will for you, is ultimately fighting a lost battle.
No matter what anyone does to suppresses you or oppresses you, God has factored in all those things in His plans for you already. Joseph had a dream of his brothers bowing to him, and all they did to stop his dream only ended up working together to bring it to pass. Therefore do not bother about anyone who is working against you, just focus on obeying God. God is a master strategist who knows how to cause the plans of your enemies to backfire and work to propel you forward.
When you understand this, you will always choose to fear God and obey Him, rather than fear what men can do. Certainly, those who fear God end up elevated and rewarded with His abundant blessings.
Psalms 112:1-3 says ‘Blessed is the man that fears the Lord and delight greatly in God’s commandments. His seed shall be mighty upon earth: his generation shall be blessed. Wealth and riches shall be in his house: and his righteousness shall endureth forever.’
The fear of God positions us for supernatural provision and progress. Let us therefore today, make the choice to abide in the fear of God, to follow His Word, and do whatever He requires of us.
As we do this, surely our lives will overflow with abundant favor, miracles and unending wonders.
PRAYER: Lord, please help me to always make the pursuit of Your will a great priority in my life. May my fear, love and reverence for You continue to grow deeper every day in Jesus Name.
QUOTE: Illuminate your world for you are a star destined to shine. – WORDBITE 222