You Bless the Righteous

The Blessing

By William M. Self, Sr.

Does everything you do add up to what God says is right

“For surely, O Lord, you bless the righteous;

you surround them with your favor as with a shield.”

 

You Bless the Righteous

Being a perfectionist I cannot understand

why everyone is not a perfectionist.

It bothers me to see things out of place.

Being a perfectionist can be stressful

and fear can hinder you from trying.

Mistakes are a perfectionist’s nightmare.

Doing things right takes time.

Over the years, I find I have less time to

 do all the things that need to get done.

Little things start getting

out of place and over looked.

There is a saying many of us live by…

 “The end justifies the means.”

We all have goals for ourselves and others.

The question is not only how does God look

at our goals, but the way we get to those goals.

Are our methods considered righteous by God?

Methods… legal or illegal, fair or foul, kind or cruel,

truth or lies, democratic or dictatorial, good or evil.

The morals of our methods is generally

viewed by the way others are doing things.

We all think we have a better idea.

  

But the standard of right or righteousness is not

set by the way others do things or our better ideas…

God sets the standard.

Our best attempts to do what is right

falls short of God’s standard of right.

When things are done right, it is beautiful.

God’s standard of right brings a glory that we all fall short of.

Doing what is right cannot be accomplished without humility.

Humility is the awareness of our ability to make a mistake.

Doing what is right takes practice.

That is why we need God’s mercy

which gives us the ability to try again.

How focused are you on getting things right?

How conscience are you about doing things God’s way?

 

The one striving to be righteous may

 fall seven times but gets up again.

Why?  Because…

“For surely, O Lord, you bless the righteous;

you surround them with your favor as with a shield.”

Your blessing and your protection from God is

based on your attitude about doing things right.

Scripture Reading

Psalm 5:11-12 NIV

But let all who take refuge in you be glad;

let them ever sing for joy.

Spread your protection over them,

that those who love your name may rejoice in you.

12 For surely, O Lord, you bless the righteous;

you surround them with your favor as with a shield.

Romans 1:17 NIV

17 For in the gospel a righteousness from God is revealed,

 a righteousness that is by faith from first to last,

 just as it is written:

 "The righteous will live by faith."