LOOK BEYOND THE BLESSING - We seek the Lord for His blessings, prosperity, and success. But true discipleship is focusing not on the blessings of the Lord, but on the Lord of the blessings! We can rejoice in our blessings, but let's not dwell on them! Let's set our eyes on the Lord and the calling He has for us. When He sees that we have pure and willing hearts, He will be faithful to use us to accomplish His glorious plan - “Salvation belongeth unto the LORD: thy blessing is upon thy people.” Yeshua (Jesus) told His disciples to go into the deep waters and let down their nets for fish. When they did, their nets were filled up with fish to the point of breaking. Being fishermen and businessmen, they may have been tempted to start doing business. I mean, think how much they could make! But God had a different purpose. The disciples' occupation as fishermen was just a vehicle for God to demonstrate His great power and love. He wasn't blessing them with fish so that they would get excited about fishing -- He was blessing them with fish so that they could get their eyes off their fishing and on to the greater call He had for them! Thankfully, they left the fishing business and went off with the Lord to do great and mighty things. Too many of us are wrapped up in fish. We seek the Lord for His blessings, prosperity, and success. But true discipleship is focusing not on the blessings of the Lord, but on the Lord of the blessings!

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Look beyond the blessing!

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We seek the Lord for His blessings, prosperity, and success. But true discipleship is focusing not on the blessings of the Lord, but on the Lord of the blessings! 

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We can rejoice in our blessings, but let's not dwell on them! Let's set our eyes on the Lord and the calling He has for us. When He sees that we have pure and willing hearts, He will be faithful to use us to accomplish His glorious plan!

Worthy Ministries

 

“Salvation belongeth unto the LORD: thy blessing is upon thy people.” - Psalm 3:8

 

Yeshua (Jesus) told His disciples to go into the deep waters and let down their nets for fish.

When they did, their nets were filled up with fish to the point of breaking.

Being fishermen and businessmen, they may have been tempted to start doing business. I mean, think how much they could make!

But God had a different purpose. The disciples' occupation as fishermen was just a vehicle for God to demonstrate His great power and love.

He wasn't blessing them with fish so that they would get excited about fishing -- He was blessing them with fish so that they could get their eyes off their fishing and on to the greater call He had for them!

Thankfully, they left the fishing business and went off with the Lord to do great and mighty things.

Too many of us are wrapped up in fish.

We seek the Lord for His blessings, prosperity, and success.

But true discipleship is focusing not on the blessings of the Lord, but on the Lord of the blessings!

We can rejoice in our blessings, but let's not dwell on them!

Let's set our eyes on the Lord and the calling He has for us.

When He sees that we have pure and willing hearts, He will be faithful to use us to accomplish His glorious plan!

Worthy Ministries is a Christian organization based in the United States and Israel with a global outreach to more than 120 countries on a daily basis.

Though we are an internet ministry, we are also significantly involved in the land of Israel.

Each week, Worthy Ministries delivers thousands of daily devotionals and news briefs across the globe. This past year alone, we have sent out more than 5.2 million news briefs and inspirational devotionals. We have received thousands of encouraging responses from appreciative subscribers. And many millions have utilized our sites and services, including Worthy News, Worthy Chat, Worthy Devotions, and Worthy Christian Forums.

https://www.worthydevotions.com/christian-devotional/look-beyond-the-blessing

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Luke 5:1-11 - English Standard Version

Jesus Calls the First Disciples

“5 On one occasion, while the crowd was pressing in on him to hear the word of God, he was standing by the lake of Gennesaret, ² and he saw two boats by the lake, but the fishermen had gone out of them and were washing their nets. 

^“3 Getting into one of the boats, which was Simon's, he asked him to put out a little from the land. And he sat down and taught the people from the boat. 

^“4 And when he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, ‘Put out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch.’ 

^“5 And Simon answered, ‘Master, we toiled all night and took nothing! But at your word I will let down the nets.’

^“6 And when they had done this, they enclosed a large number of fish, and their nets were breaking. ⁷ They signaled to their partners in the other boat to come and help them. 

^“And they came and filled both the boats, so that they began to sink. ⁸ But when Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus' knees, saying, ‘Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord.’

^“9 For he and all who were with him were astonished at the catch of fish that they had taken, ¹⁰ and so also were James and John, sons of Zebedee, who were partners with Simon.

^“And Jesus said to Simon, ‘Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching men.’^[a] 11 And when they had brought their boats to land, they left everything and followed him.

a.     Luke 5:10 The Greek word anthropoi refers here to both men and women

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=luke+5%3A1-11&version=ESV

YOU MAY HAVE FAILED, BUT YOU'RE NOT A FAILURE - Who Defines You? - Some people will try to define you by your mistakes. They'll stick labels on you, reminding you of the times you failed, the times you compromised, the times you didn't measure up. Some people will remember your failures more than your victories, despite all the times you succeed, despite all the good you do - the times you sacrifice for others and go the extra mile. Don't let people label you - you may have failed, but you're not a failure. They don't determine your destiny. They can't stop what God has ordained for your life - the only person that can stop you is you - Some people will try to define you by your mistakes. They'll stick labels on you, reminding you of the times you failed, the times you didn't measure up. Some people will remember your failures more than your victories, despite all the times you succeed, despite all the good you do — the times you sacrifice for others and go the extra mile. They don't determine your destiny. They can't stop what God has ordained for your life. The only person that can stop you is you. If you let your mistakes define you, if you wear the labels people stick on you, if you believe the lies from "the accuser of the brethren," that will keep you from your destiny. You may have failed, but you're not a failure. That was a moment in your life, that was one season, and it doesn't determine your future.

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You may have failed, but you're not a failure

Who Defines You?

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Some people will try to define you by your mistakes. They'll stick labels on you, reminding you of the times you failed, the times you compromised, the times you didn't measure up. Some people will remember your failures more than your victories, despite all the times you succeed, despite all the good you do - the times you sacrifice for others and go the extra mile. Don't let people label you - you may have failed, but you're not a failure. They don't determine your destiny. They can't stop what God has ordained for your life - the only person that can stop you is you

Joel Osteen

If you're a baseball fan, you may know that Bill Buckner was a star player for the Boston Red Sox for many years.

He had more hits than Joe DiMaggio or Ted Williams.

One season he had the highest batting average in all of baseball. He was a great teammate and a leader in the clubhouse.

But in the 1986 World Series, his error on a slow-rolling ground ball allowed the other team to tie the game. That team went on to win the World Series.

Despite his illustrious career, many fans only remember that one bad play.

When Buckner passed away this year, the first line in the Associated Press article was, "Bill Buckner, a star hitter, who became known for making one of the most infamous plays in major league history."

Some people will try to define you by your mistakes.

They'll stick labels on you, reminding you of the times you failed, the times you compromised, the times you didn't measure up.

Some people will remember your failures more than your victories, despite all the times you succeed, despite all the good you do — the times you sacrifice for others and go the extra mile.

When you make one mistake, when you go through one bad season, don't be surprised if people say, "God's not going to bless you. You gave in to the temptation. You went through the divorce. Your business failed."

Don't let people label you. They don't determine your destiny. They can't stop what God has ordained for your life.

The only person that can stop you is you.

If you let your mistakes define you, if you wear the labels people stick on you, if you believe the lies from "the accuser of the brethren" (Revelation 12:10), that will keep you from your destiny.

You may have failed, but you're not a failure.

That was a moment in your life, that was one season, and it doesn't determine your future.

You can't stop others from putting a negative label on you, but you can take it right off.

"I'm not defined by my mistakes. I'm defined by what God says about me. I am forgiven. I am redeemed. My past mistakes are behind me, and my failures are in my yesterday."

"God's mercies are new every morning" (Lamentations 3:23).

Receive that mercy and move on.

"What about that failure?" It's in the past.

"What about that mistake?" It's covered by mercy.

"What about the divorce, the compromise, the time you blew it?" That's over and done.

Life is too short to let what happened in the past keep you from the great things God has in your future.

Joel Osteen

Raised in Houston, Texas, with a loving family of seven and world-renowned parents in full-time ministry, Joel Osteen never imagined that he would follow so closely in his father’s footsteps. As a young man, his training and interests were behind the scenes in television production though he was close to his father in ministry.

"There’s no greater feeling than being able to help people rise higher and overcome something and feel better about themselves. I think that we’re all made to help others, to lift people up.”

- Joel Osteen

His father always encouraged him to preach, but Joel would politely decline time and time again until one day in October 1999 when his father was admitted to the hospital with kidney complications. Joel finally agreed to preach the next Sunday, and his father passed the following week. Joel’s first sermon was the last his father ever heard. Joel and his wife, Victoria, were suddenly thrust into full-time leadership of Lakewood Church.

https://www.joelosteen.com/Pages/Blog.aspx?blogid=14011

PROSPERITY AND SUCCESS IN LIFE - “Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful.” – Like Joshua and the Israelites God gave us his Law to be a blessing to his people. The Law was given to help Israel live the will of God in their daily lives. If they would live God's way, he promised they would be blessed. God is the Creator. He knows the best way for humans to live in harmony with the principles of his universe. His Law was not intended to hinder or interfere with the happiness and experience of his people. Instead, it was to help them prosper and find success in life. As we live by the Spirit, the character that is produced reflects the character of Jesus, the one who fulfilled the Law and brings us the blessings God has intended all along. Bottom line: Following God's will and living his character is a blessing to us!

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Prosperity And Success In Life

Phil Ware

“Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful.” — Joshua 1:8

Thoughts on Today's Verse...

We need to be reminded, just like Joshua and the Israelites, that God gave us his Law to be a blessing to his people.

The Law was given to help Israel live the will of God in their daily lives.

If they would live God's way, he promised they would be blessed.

In addition, God is the Creator. He knows the best way for humans to live in harmony with the principles of his universe.

His Law was not intended to hinder or interfere with the happiness and experience of his people.

Instead, it was to help them prosper and find success in life.

As Paul repeatedly reminds us in Galatians, we are no longer under Law.

But, as we live by the Spirit, the character that is produced reflects the character of Jesus, the one who fulfilled the Law and brings us the blessings God has intended all along.

Bottom line: Following God's will and living his character is a blessing to us!

My Prayer...

Loving Father, thank you for speaking your will in human words so I can better know how to live for you. I know obeying your will blesses me and those around me.

Empower me with your Spirit so that your character and grace will be fully realized in my life and my example.

In Jesus' name I pray.

Amen.

The Thoughts and Prayer on Today's Verse are written by Phil Ware.

Heartlight Provides Positive Resources for Daily Christian Living.

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