Hey Y’all,
No matter how young or old you are, you have the opportunity to experience the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. The land of the living is this very earth we live on. There are blessings and things we will experience in Heaven that are beyond what any of us could think up but blessing and abundant life isn’t just for the otherside of eternity but it’s for THIS SIDE of life. Our very life is to be an example to all of the goodness, kindness, generosity, and character of the Lord.
Yet I am confident I will see the Lord’s goodness while I am here in the land of the living. - Psalm 27:13
When you read through the whole chapter (Ps 27) it’s dedicated to looking at the Lord, natural circumstances, and choosing that despite what the natural is showing you that the Lord is where you look to and that you will still see the Lord show Himself strong on your behalf.
I’ve noticed that so many people are moved by what they don’t see in their life that they miss all that is good in their life and fail to acknowledge the Lord in those things. Recently I spent some time with a friend and I started telling her all the things I had experienced growing up. Being a first gen in America life can look a little different but when I tell the stories of the things my family experienced I can only say that I’ve seen God’s hand on our lives.
When I was a little girl my dad got laid off from his job which wasn’t ideal as it was right around the holiday season. My older sister needed braces and clearly my parents wanted to provide Christmas gifts to their girls while making sure my older sister got the braces she needed but were put what in the natural looked like it could’ve been a series of unfortunate events. One day when I was in school (keep in mind I was only in about first or second grade) my bus driver went to my house since it was the bus stop and dropped off gifts to my parents and it was all stuff that I wanted. The orthodontist also called my parents and said they wanted to bless my sister with her braces. That was a true Christmas miracle and yes it’s March and I could’ve popped over to tell this story months ago but I just think I myself needed to remind myself lately how much there is to be grateful for.
Thankfulness is a key to seeing the goodness of the Lord in your life. Don’t get caught up in having a bad attitude about what you haven’t seen in the physical yet or what you see other’s experiencing. The moment you take your eyes off of what you do have and look at what you don’t have is when you’ve lost sight truly. The Word constantly serves a reminder to us that we are to not fret or consider what others do but to remain in faith, gratitude, and meditate on the Word.
Psalm 37 is a great chapter and probably my favorite ever since I was in high school. I would tell anyone and everyone that this should be read and mediated on daily with whatever else you’re studying. But in Psalm 37 it’s tells us over and over again what we shouldn’t worry about but instead to delight in the Lord. Delighting looks like enjoying communion with Him. Wanting to dive into the Word, wanting to seek His kingdom first, being grateful, letting Him order your steps, and having this trusting relationship. When you do those things Matthew 6:33 says everything else will be added to your life. As believers we are called to live godly, set apart lives for the Lord. Psalm 37:27 actually says that when you turn from evil and do good you get to live in the land forever.
Deuteronomy 28 tells you what the blessings and curses are. How great is it that we get to live under the blessing as long as we choose it. There are countless Bible stories of the Lord leading His people into the promises He’s had for them from the beginning to the end and we get to take part. We get to experience His blessing, His promises that are yes and amen, and true life everyday.
You are already living in the land of the living and experiencing His goodness. Goodness and mercy follow us! And whatever is the desire of your heart know that as long as you’re delighting in the Lord, as long as His kingdom is first in your life those things will come to pass. You’re a testimony of God’s goodness!
