God's hand of blessing is on you!
Sometimes I feel invisible.
That’s what a young woman named Shar wrote to me in a letter that left in me tears.
“It’s like I don’t matter,” Shar said. “I have felt that way since I was a little girl. Not pretty enough, not smart enough, nothing special.”
Shar told me her father abandoned her family when she was a toddler. He didn’t want a relationship with her or her brother, and that made her feel worthless, as if no one could see her, or just didn’t care.
Have you ever felt invisible or overlooked?
Some of the Jews in Nehemiah 7 felt that way, too. And it was pretty sad because it should have been a happy time in their lives. God had freed them from Babylonian captivity. The walls and gates of Jerusalem had been rebuilt. They were able to go back to their hometown and resettle in their communities.
But there was also a big problem.
Some of the people’s records got lost, so they didn’t have any proof of identity. That meant they couldn’t go back to their former jobs. Even some of the anointed priests were banned from serving in the priesthood.
They were suddenly anointed and anonymous. What could they do?
Nehemiah 7:64 explains, “These searched for their family records, but they could not find them and so were excluded from the priesthood as unclean.”
Yikes! Can you imagine how awful it felt to lose all valid proof of who they were and on top of that, be labeled outcasts because of it? The ones with no ID just wanted to be accepted. They wanted to do what they loved and felt called to do, but couldn’t.
“You have been in a tough position. Things have been out of whack. But hold on; God is intervening in the process. He’s about to change things for the better and work it all out for you! ”
They were completely doomed with no options—well, accept for one, which would require divine intervention. According to verse 65, priests with no records or credentials would only be allowed to go back to their roles if a verified priest consulted the Urim and Thummim to confirm their identity.
The Urim and Thummim, which were located in the breastplates of priestly garments according to Exodus 28:30, provided a supernatural way for priests to talk to God and find out what His will was. So this was not a natural process. Here in this passage, we learn something: once priests took time to commune with the Lord, it was fully expected that He would speak and reveal the true identities of the ones who were anonymous to man.
This is what gets me excited every time I read it! God had a process in place to assist those who were displaced, unknown, looked down upon and cast aside. Even though by man’s standards these people weren’t worthy of consideration or support, God felt differently.
He feels differently about you, too. Psalm 139:5 NLT, says, “You go before me and follow me. You place your hand of blessing on my head.”
God has you covered and His hand of blessing is on you. His favor is on you. His grace is on you. His anointing is on you. His power is on you. So it does not matter what people say about you, how they treat you, or what challenging situations you face. When God places His hand upon you, He validates you Himself. He personally sees to it that your needs are met.
The Lord, Himself, opens doors; makes ways; lifts you up; promotes you; provides for you; makes room for you; and verifies that you are chosen by Him to do great things.
To remind you that His hand of blessing is on you, I’m stirring Deuteronomy 28:6 GNT into your cup of inspiration, which says, “The LORD will bless everything you do.”
As you drink down the contents of your cup, know that the blessings, favor, wisdom, grace and anointing of God rests on you. No one can stop you from walking in your Kingdom authority, fulfilling your divine assignment, or reaping all the great things the Lord has set aside just for you.
God vouches for you and favors you; and that, my friend, is all that matters.
Be encouraged and lift up your head!
Now let’s pray.
God, I sometimes get distracted looking at all the odds stacked against me and all the obstacles in my way. My situation isn’t favorable and sometimes, it feels like no one sees me and I will never get to the place You have destined for me. Thank You, today, for reminding me that You hold the keys to my destiny and no one, and nothing can shut me out from receiving all You have for me. I praise You that You have placed Your hand of favor and blessing upon my life. I receive the blessing and I declare that I am who You say I am: anointed, favored, chosen and loved by You! In Jesus’ name, Amen.
As always, thanks for reading and until next time... may today's cup of inspiration uplift, encourage, and empower you!
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