WHEN GOD BRINGS BLESSINGS ON YOUR LIFE, SOMEONE WILL BE JEALOUS AND TRY TO STIR UP TROUBLE. STAY ON THE HIGH ROAD. DON’T PAY ATTENTION TO THE CRITICISM

23/09/23

JOEL OSTEEN MINISTRIES
Today’s Word

TODAY’S SCRIPTURE
When Isaac planted his crops that year, he harvested a hundred times more grain than he planted, for the LORD blessed him.
Genesis 26:12, NLT

STAY ON THE HIGH ROADß
In Genesis 26, Isaac was living among the Philistines in a time of great famine. He stepped out in faith and sowed seeds despite the drought, and God blessed him with a hundredfold harvest. He became a wealthy man, with large flocks of sheep and great herds of cattle. He was blessed so abundantly that the Philistines became jealous. All was well with the Philistines until Isaac’s business took off. They first clogged up Isaac’s wells, then the king told Isaac he had to move because he was too powerful. Isaac could have argued, could have started a fight, but he understood that with the blessing comes persecution. He kept his peace, moved on, and God brought him into a better place.

When God brings blessings on your life, someone will be jealous and try to stir up trouble. Stay on the high road. Don’t pay attention to the criticism of small-minded people. When you refuse to get bent out of shape, nothing can keep you from the abundance that belongs to you.

A PRAYER FOR TODAY
“Father, thank You for the promise to bless me right where I am, even when I face opposition and ridicule. I believe that You will multiply me even in the midst of famine. I receive Your peace and declare that I will stay on the high road and avoid conflict. In Jesus’ Name, Amen

SECTION TWO

One day, when I was studying the Word, the Lord said to me, “Notice how goodness and mercy follow you in Psalm 23:6.” Then, He brought me to John 10:4, where it describes how the shepherd goes before the sheep and the sheep follow him.

In a flash, the Lord opened my eyes to see a divine sequence: When you follow or pursue Him, the good shepherd, His goodness and mercy and all the blessings you need in life will follow after you!

My friend, don’t pursue the blessings. Pursue Jesus, the blesser. As you pursue Him, you don’t have to be concerned about the blessings because they will follow after you!

In fact, the Hebrew translation of Psalm 23:6 is much stronger and more aggressive. It literally says, “Surely goodness and mercy shall HUNT ME DOWN all the days of my life!”