“’He helped those who were poor and needy, so everything went well for him. That is what it means to know God,’ says the Lord.“ [Jeremiah 22:16]

“But remember the Lord your God, for it is he who gives you the ability to produce wealth, and so confirms his covenant, which he swore to your ancestors, as it is today.” [Deuteronomy 8:18]

Every talent I have, every fortune I own, the intelligence I have, the wisdom I have, all my possessions including my life are a gift from God. It is God who has blessed me this much. Any reward I get for my hard work and brains come from God Himself. I have been blessed during times where I probably didn’t deserve to be blessed. I remained alive when I should have died. That alone is a blessing in itself. God still wants me to receive in more of His blessings. There are tons more waiting for me to get a hold of them. But I should never forget where my blessings come from. I should never use my blessings for personal gain. I should never seek to glorify myself. God wants me to use my blessings to help others draw near to Him.

The verse above says knowing God means caring about those in need. God’s heart is found in the needy. They are in need of God. They are in need of His Light. Me, as His child, as someone who knows about Him, I have to be that light for the needy. I have to show that God is in me. God reveals Himself more and more to me each time I obey His heart’s desires. They more I obey, the more I’m blessed. I need to stop being so selfish. I need to stop using my blessings for selfish gains. In reality, I gain nothing if I spend what I have on petty things. All will fade, except for the impact I make in the world. I have the choice to leave behind a selfless mark or a selfish one. I much rather leave nothing but my love behind. Francis Chan states, “The concept of downsizing so that others might upgrade is biblical, beautiful, and nearly unheard of.” I want to be that kind of selfless. I want others to rise from the dead. I want others to enter in the land of eternal life. I want others to be blessed by God’s presence just as I am. I want others to see God like I see Him.

Father, there are things I never want to do. I never want to deny You. I never want to pass an opportunity to be a light. I never want to do anything for my personal gain. It doesn’t work that way. It all crumbles when I seek to simply glorify myself. Show me how I can best serve Your Kingdom. There are so many uncharted waters I have yet to sail through. Be the wind that guides my sails. Lead me to those who are in need of You. Lead me to people who will strengthen my walk with You. Wrap me in Your arms. There is where I find shelter in the storm. There is where I find peace. There is where I find myself after being so lost at sea. I may not have had a good start. I may have had a rocky middle. I will not finish where I started. I will finish in far better lands than the one I started off in. I’m sailing towards Your Kingdom. Towards my home. Thank You for allowing me to travel this far. May You permit me to keep going. There is much to do for Your Kingdom. Let Your Will be done.