I’m paying this message forward. Sunday’s sermon was given by a member of our congregation who was inspired by a visit to his daughter’s church.

This was just what I needed.

Last week I published my book. You can find it here: The Journey Gardener and the Compass Thief: Auroran Journeys Book One. My mind has been consumed with marketing my book and fretting over whether people would like it.

God reminded me—regarding my word for the year, pursue—that it was a two way street. While I am pursuing God and the plans he desires me to accomplish, he is pursuing my attention so we can pursue things together. Don’t know if I described that exactly right. The thought is, if I’m interpreting my word correctly, I’m not pursuing what I want on my own, but pursuing, with God, the good works he has prepared for me to do.

For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

Ephesians‬ ‭2‬:‭10‬ ‭NIV‬‬

And that brings me back to Sunday’s sermon. Three Hebrew words: barak, yarash, and yashab.

Barak is the Hebrew word for blessing. What was shared on Sunday was that God’s blessing is reciprocal. It is God who initiates the blessing, or the promise, and when we receive and acknowledge his blessing we bring God glory. We bless God.

Yarash means to take possession in Hebrew. Follow the pattern in this next passage of scripture.

“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.”

John‬ ‭3‬:‭16‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

This familiar scripture could be expressed like this: “Because of God’s love, He blessed the world and gave His only begotten Son, providing a way for whoever would take possession of His blessing, everlasting life, by simply believing.” God initiates the blessing and we take possession by believing.

For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God.

Ephesians‬ ‭2‬:‭8‬ ‭ESV‬‬

Grace and salvation are the blessings here, and faith is the action of taking possession.

Yashab is Hebrew for to dwell, inhabit, or abide. We are called, not only to take possession of God’s blessing or promises, but to dwell and continue to inhabit or abide in them.

Think of the promises given throughout the Old Testament, from the Garden to the Promised Land, God desired his people to live in his blessing. Think through Psalm 23.

The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters. He restores my soul; He leads me in the paths of righteousness For His name’s sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; For You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You anoint my head with oil; My cup runs over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me All the days of my life; And I will dwell in the house of the Lord Forever.

Psalms‬ ‭23‬:‭1‬-‭6‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

This is a perfect example of what it means to dwell in God’s blessings.

So let me site a passage that pulls it all together.

Everything we could ever need for life and godliness has already been deposited in us by his divine power. For all this was lavished upon us through the rich experience of knowing him who has called us by name and invited us to come to him through a glorious manifestation of his goodness. As a result of this, he has given you magnificent promises that are beyond all price, so that through the power of these tremendous promises we can experience partnership with the divine nature, by which you have escaped the corrupt desires that are of the world.

So devote yourselves to lavishly supplementing your faith with goodness, and to goodness add understanding, and to understanding add the strength of self-control, and to self-control add patient endurance, and to patient endurance add godliness, and to godliness add mercy toward your brothers and sisters, and to mercy toward others add unending love.

Since these virtues are already planted deep within, and you possess them in abundant supply, they will keep you from being inactive or fruitless in your pursuit of knowing Jesus Christ more intimately.‬‬

2 Peter‬ ‭1‬:‭3‬-‭8‬ ‭TPT

The blessings are there, waiting to be possessed and inhabited, accessed through faith, obedience, and living in tandem with God.

Of these three words yashab is the most elusive for me. But maybe that’s because I don’t believe I can fully take possession of the blessings he offers.

Today, will you join me in reciprocating God’s blessing by acknowledging, possessing and dwelling in what he has initiated in your life?

Grace & Peace,

Sandy

Image created in Canva. The myrtle flower symbolizes spiritual blessing, renewal, and divine favor.