CONSIDERING YOUR WAYS
God promised to open the windows of heaven and command His blessing upon Israel
when they obeyed Him and gave their tithes. As long as they were obedient, Israel lived
under an open heaven. Not only did God promise to give fruitful seasons so that their
crops would prosper, He promised to guard them from anything that would spoil the
crops before they were gathered. He said, "I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes." He
told them they would reap such a blessing "...that there shall not be room enough to
receive it." They could expect not only a harvest sufficient to meet their needs, but more
than enough--an abundance. Divine provision in every area of their lives.
When the nation of Israel was disobedient and failed to give to God, they lived under a
curse and the heavens were closed to them (Deuteronomy 28:15,23-24). Despite their
knowledge of this promise, the people failed to recognize the reason why they were not
prospering. God used the prophets Haggai and Zechariah to reveal that the conditions
they were experiencing were a result of their disobedience:
Consider your ways (and set your mind on what has come to you). Now therefore
thus says the Lord of hosts: Consider your ways (and set your mind on what has
come to you). You have sown much, but you have reaped little; you eat, but you
do not have enough; you drink, but you do not have your fill, you clothe
yourselves, but no one is warm; and he who earns wages has earned them to put
them in a bag with holes in it...You looked for much (harvest), and it came to
little; and even when you brought that home, I blew it away. Why?
says the Lord.
of hosts. Because of My house which lies waste, while you yourselves run each
man to his own house (eager to build and adorn it). Therefore the heavens above
you (for your sake) withhold the dew, and the earth withholds its produce. And I
have called for a drought upon the land and the hill country, upon the grain, the
fresh fruit juice, the oil, upon what the ground brings forth, upon men and cattle,
and upon all the (wearisome) toil of men's hands. (Haggai 1:5-6, 9-11, AMP)
God told Israel to consider their ways--to look at how they were living to determine why
they were not experiencing God's blessings. He told them, "You looked for much
(harvest). and it came to little; and even when you brought that home, I blew it away.
Why? says the Lord of hosts. Because of My house which lies waste, while you yourselves
run each man to his own house (eager to build and adorn it)" (Haggai 1:9, AMP).
Many believers are living under a closed heaven and wondering why they are not being
blessed. Some people blame their difficulties on Satan, when sometimes their problems
are actually a result of their own disobedience to scriptural principles concerning
finances. Are you continuing to incur debt? Are you co-signing for the debts of others?
Are you not paying your bills? Are you refusing to forgive someone? Are you
neglecting to tithe? All these are violations of scriptural principles that prevent the
blessings of God. It is time to stop and consider your ways.
PRAYER:
My FATHER, My God, this year let my life reflect the blessing of the Lord, I shall not be static, I decree PROGRESS, FAVOR, HONOR, AND INFLUENCE are my portion. My life is SALTED, My speech is SALTED, My Home and Business are SALTED in the name of Jesus.