Welcome back to Part 3 of our series How to Give and Receive Blessings!
Last time we learnt a remarkable thought and this important question to ask before giving a blessing: Am I in for what I can give or what I can get? An accountability question which evaluates our hearts to see; are we giving blessings the way the Lord does, and the way He intended with unconditional love?
Let’s recap to the phrase or statement the Lord gave me that started this teaching “the level of a blessing is to level (direct proportion) to the heart that giveth it and to the heart that receives it” ! Wow! He continued with, So how do you give a blessing and receive a blessing?
The level of this blessing given in fullness, is only received to the level we receive it. The received portion is determined by our heart response or posture.
So the question is: How do we prepare our heart for a blessing in order to receive it in fullness?
The answer is SURRENDER, for a surrendered heart will always receive the fullness of a blessing. So what does a surrendered heart look like? It’s a heart that receives a blessing for what it is, no matter what it is! The VALUE OF the blessing is the HEART BEHIND IT, not in what it is.
Remember what Jesus said about the lady with the 3 copper coins
Mark 12:41-44 (NIV)
“Jesus sat down opposite the place where the offerings were put and watched the crowd putting their money into the temple treasury. Many rich people threw in large amounts.But a poor widow came and put in two very small copper coins, worth only a few cents.
Calling his disciples to him, Jesus said, “Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others.They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything—all she had to live on.”
Cooper coins to this lady to another were the finest gold, jewels or linen. When we receive a blessing we receive the heart that gives! The Lord just spoke to me, often we can give something to get something, and that we judge a gift by the value it’s worth, yet when truly receiving a blessing this isn’t taken into account.
Remember the mother who receives a card painted by their child, or Jesus who receives a little boy’s small lunch. Both hold one of the most valuable things, more precious than gold, jewels or the latest iPhone, PlayStation or Samsung galaxy tablet.
Yes both the card painted and Jesus receiving the small lunch come from a surrendered unconditional heart of love!
In order to truly receive these blessings it takes a heart to see this which a mother does and Jesus did. In fact I believe without this boy’s gift given this way, Jesus would not have been able to feed the thousands. Why you may ask? This scripture answers:
Jeremiah 17:10 (NIV)
“I the LORD search the heart and examine the mind, to reward each person according to their conduct, according to what their deeds deserve.”
Let’s pause here, next time I’ll continue Part 3B where we will lead in with testimony and have the application then.
Challenge Time: Sit with the Lord and ask the following, recording what He says.
Lord would You show me the posture of my heart?
Lord is my heart fully surrendered to You in these areas? (say them, as the Holy Spirit leads you)
Lord where is my heart not fully surrendered?
Lord what do You want to say about it?
Lord what is my next step?
Be open and wait as He may bring a person, place, or event to your mind that He wants to bring you to that Posture and Position of Fully Surrendered Heart, one that is yielded with ‘Yes Lord You have my yes”
Give Thanks Him
Let’s pray,
Father, You are Faithful and Your heart is so for us every moment. Thank You that You want to take all our wounds, and heal them, to help us live Fully Yielded with Surrendered hearts of unconditional love to You and to others. We love You. In Jesus name. Amen.
Craig Patten
Itinerate Pastor/Prophet
Encounter Ministries
