Take Another Look.

Are you missing out on the blessings God planned for you because you’ve put Him in a box? We tell God how to bless us, when to do it, and who to use. But Isaiah 55:8 tells us God’s thoughts are not our thoughts, and His ways are not our ways.

It’s dangerous to trust the methods of God instead of the God of the methods! Why? Because God’s ways are often unorthodox and illogical.

If you want to start living in His abundant grace and blessings, take the following steps.

1) Lose preconceptions about how God will bless you.

Just because the boss didn’t give you the promotion you deserve, doesn’t mean it won’t happen. When God closes one door, He opens another.

However, your pre-conceived ideas of how, when and through whom God will bless you box Him in. Take another look! There’s a good chance the blessing is in front of you, but you can’t see past your own self-imposed limitations.

Jesus met a man who had been paralyzed for 38 years (John 5:6-8). The man expected God would heal him if only he could be the first person into the pool when the angel stirred the waters. Yet, here was God the Healer standing right before him! This man almost missed his blessing because he was looking the other way.

I myself lived in excruciating pain for 6 months from a running accident because I thought someone needed to lay hands on me and pray. Then I went to a chiropractor and got healed immediately! I had boxed God in with my idea of who He would use to heal me and how.

The children of Israel almost missed God’s blessing when He sent them bread. But because it looked different from the bread they were used to eating in Egypt they said, “Manna? What is it?” Your blessing could be right at your feet, but in an unexpected package.

2) Get rid of narrow-minded thinking.

God may remove longtime acquaintances and, instead, give strangers the solution to your problem. Open your inner circle to new people and new ideas.

For example, God used me to speak something specific to a couple I had just met. It changed their whole outlook and sparked healing in their marriage. Take another look. The person you least expect just might carry the key to the blessing you’re praying for.

3) Guard against discouragement.

A closed door isn’t a “no” from God. Either He has something better for you, or the timing isn’t right just yet. Remember, God wants to develop character in you and that takes time and a will to change. Stay open to God’s unconventional ways of doing things. He uses different methods, people and perfect timing to get to you His already-purchased blessings.

Maybe God is answering your prayers, but not in the way you expect. Let’s open our eyes and take another look!

If this blog post has been a blessing to you, please take a moment to let us know. Comment below.