God has promised to bless you!

Sometimes life beats you down so much that you give up hoping and believing that anything good will ever happen for you. If that’s where you are today, read these words: “‘I know the plans I have for you,’ says the Lord…‘plans for good…to give you a future and a hope’” (Jeremiah 29:11 NLT). God has a good plan for each of us, but not all of us experience it. Why? Two reasons: (1) We don’t realize we have rights and privileges. We believe God can save us and take us to heaven when we die, but don’t think He can do anything about our past, present, or future. (2) We live far below the level He intended because we see ourselves in the wrong light. We believe He can bless anybody—except us—because we’re not worthy. God has clothed you in the righteousness of Christ, so you’re worthy in His sight and He has plans to “bless you as He has promised.” In Bible days, when a new king came to the throne, he made sure the old king and his family were put to death; that way nobody could rise up against him. So when David replaced King Saul, Mephibosheth, Saul’s grandson, fled to the wilderness in fear. But David was a different kind of king. Instead of seeking to wipe out his predecessor’s family, he asked, “Is there still anyone…left of the house of Saul, that I may show him kindness for Jonathan’s sake?” (2 Samuel 9:1 NKJV). “Why would God bless me?” you ask. The answer is simple but clear: for Christ’s sake!