Did you know there’s a difference between a promise and a blessing? We use those words synonymously, but they are different. Blessings are optional. God is not required to bless us but He is a giver and actively seeks out opportunities to do so!

A promise is impartially given. God’s promises are unconditional and based His character and nature. For example, Romans 10:13 says, “For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”  Not some people, popular people, or kind people but everyone! God promises to forgive everyone who calls upon Jesus name, no “ifs” “ands” or “buts” about it!

A blessing is a free-will act of God and comes with conditions. If the condition is met, then the blessing is given. The proportion, type, and timing of a blessing are entirely up to God. Remember God doesn’t have to bless anyone. God has promised to forgive all our sin and is preparing heaven for us. I’d say that’s more than enough!

“³ “If you walk in my statutes and observe my commandments and do them, ⁴ then I will give…” Leviticus 26:3-4a

God, speaking through Moses, explains to the people if they will do two things, he will bless them with six blessings.

#1 “⁴I will give you rain in their season, and the land shall yield its increase, and the trees of the field shall yield their fruit.”

God will bless the work of our hands!

The people labored to work the land but without rain, they would not see a harvest. This was a matter of life or death. A drought could be fatal. But if they will obey God, He will send the rain in season and they will reap a harvest.

#2 “⁵Your threshing floor shall last to the time of the grape harvest, and the grape harvest shall last to the time for sowing.”

God’s blessing of provision will be perpetual.

The threshing floor is where the harvested grain would be processed. God says you’ll have so much grain to process that once you’re done, your grapes will be ready for harvest. Then when you are done with the grape harvest, it will be time to plant seeds for the next harvest.

#3 “⁶I will give you peace in the land…”

God will bless us with peace amid chaos.

When you lack peace, it’s impossible to rest. God supplies you and me with peace no matter our circumstance. Circumstances that should steal your peace will not affect the peace God gives to those who obey Him.

#4 “⁷You shall chase your enemies…”

We are more than conquerors.

We have an enemy who is not of flesh and blood named satan. He and his demonic angels fight against God and His people. If permitted, they will set-up camp around you and torment you. When we walk in obedience, the enemy must flee from us! They will not prevail against the man or woman who obeys God!

#5 “¹¹You shall eat old store long kept, and you shall clear out the old to make way for the new.”

Blessing of provision.

God’s blessing will stretch further than what is naturally possible. And before later runs-out, the new harvest will arrive, and we will have to clear out the old to make room for the new.

#6 “¹²I will walk among you and will be your God, and you shall be my people.”

The blessing of friendship with God.

God will walk with us. There’s no greater blessing than to walk with God all the days of your life. To know Him, enjoy His company, peace, joy, and provision. You can’t obtain these blessings apart from Him.

Lacking God’s blessing?

When I sense that I may be missing out on God’s blessings, I have learned to do two things.

First, I ask the Holy Spirit to search my heart and expose any area of my life that may be out of bounds. If the Holy Spirit reveals something to me, I repent and intentionally work on obedience in that area.

There are times when I ask the Holy Spirit, and He reveals nothing. That’s an indication that I need to pray and fast because there is something happening in the spiritual realm obstructing my reception of God’s blessing.

God is a giver and He wants to bless His people. Anything you sacrifice to obey God is always less than what God will bless you with in return.