Skip to main content

“The blessings of God will complicate your life.”

A thought by Mark Batterson from his book, Double Blessing (p. 71). The Crown Publishing Group. Kindle Edition. (Click on the book title to go to Amazon.com to buy the book.)

That’s an interesting thought but also a true one!

Mark says, “This simple revelation changed the way I live, the way I lead. Sin will complicate your life in ways it should not be complicated. The blessings of God will complicate your life in ways it should be complicated.”

He goes on, “When Lora and I got married, it complicated our lives. Praise God for a quarter century of complications! We have three complications named Parker, Summer, and Josiah, and I cannot imagine my life without them! The larger the organization you lead, the more complicated it gets. The more money you make, the more complicated your taxes are. I didn’t know it at the time, but when I prayed that double portion prayer at the foot of my father-in-law’s casket, I was asking God to complicate my life times two! And I praise God for answering that prayer. If you ask me to pray that God would make your life easier, I won’t do it. I pray that God would complicate your life in ways that only He can—with double blessing!

“Do you remember the reward for good work in the Parable of the Talents? It wasn’t extra vacation time or an early retirement. The reward for good work was more work. That’s how it works in God’s kingdom. If we’re being honest, many of our prayers revolve around personal comfort. I’d advocate the opposite! If you’re feeling courageous, try this prayer: Lord, complicate my life!”

That is so true in my wife, Margaret, and my life.  God has opened a door in her life and answered a prayer that is unbelievable, and it has its complications but it also has great blessings, great blessings!  So, are you willing to pray that prayer in your life?  Are you?  

Yes, yes!
Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

“We believe it’s important to derive value from everything in our lives.”

A thought by Jon Tyson from his book, The Burden Is Light: Liberating Your Life from the Tyranny of Performance and Success (p. 118). The Crown Publishing Group. Kindle Edition. (Click on the book title to go to Amazon.com to buy the book.) But is that all that is important? Jon says, “We want to realize an immediate return from whatever we invest in. I am prone to this way of thinking in so many areas of my life. ‘I paid a lot for that meal, yet the portions were not that big.’ ‘I invested two hours in that movie, and it was just okay.’   ‘I went to church, but the sermon wasn’t that profound.’ We believe it’s important to derive value from everything in our lives. But beauty doesn’t fit within that framework. When Mary anointed Jesus with oil, there was an immediate outcry against her extravagant generosity. ‘It could have been sold for more than a year’s wages and the money given to the poor.’ (Mark 14:5) One gospel depicts the disciples crying, ‘Why this waste?...
Post a Comment
Read more

"Lie 2: The more you worry about it, the better your odds of avoiding it."

A thought by Louie Giglio in his book,   Winning the War on Worry    (p. 5). Thomas Nelson. Kindle Edition. (Click on the book title to go to Amazon to buy the book.) Here is another lie that the Enemy uses with us. And Louie says, "This is a tricky lie. Yes, we often have cause for concern and preparation. But the Enemy wants you to believe that if you worry or fret over a certain outcome long enough, you can keep something bad from happening." But this is so important to realize. He says, "The reality is worrying has never once prevented something negative from happening. Planning might. Prayer has. But worry never will." He continues, "The Enemy tells you that by worrying about a situation (or every situation) you can make your tomorrow better. Really, worry just robs you of today. Jesus implored us: 'I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body mor...
Post a Comment
Read more

“Hurry and love are incompatible.”

A thought by John Mark Comer from his book, The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry (p. 23). The Crown Publishing Group. Kindle Edition. (Click on the book title to go to Amazon.com to buy the book.) Wow, pretty strong thought isn’t it? John says, “All my worst moments as a father, a husband, and a pastor, even as a human being, are when I’m in a hurry—late for an appointment, behind on my unrealistic to-do list, trying to cram too much into my day. I ooze anger, tension, a critical nagging—the antitheses of love. If you don’t believe me, next time you’re trying to get your type B wife and three young, easily distracted children out of the house and you’re running late (a subject on which I have a wealth of experience), just pay attention to how you relate to them. Does it look and feel like love? Or is it far more in the vein of agitation, anger, a biting comment, a rough glare? Hurry and love are oil and water: they simply do not mix.” He goes on, “Hence, in the apostle P...
Post a Comment
Read more