Blessed when cursed

A blessing opens Jesus’ sermon (Matthew 5). You feel poor, broken, sad, not good enough, oppressed, persecuted for doing the right thing? You are not alone. God sees and He comes to bless you. Let the Kingdom of Heaven come near (Matthew 4:17). Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me (Matthew 5:11).

Just like God asked Abram to pack it all up and trudge away, He will ask you to do something by faith. Something that will make no sense to people tuned into the popular culture. Be happy when people who follow demons make fun of you; it’s good evidence that you’re on the right track. Trust God. Let Him bring you into His presence. When everyone dines on selfness, tell God you’re hungry for righteousness. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. Get it in your heart that God is good.

—Hunger, Jan 5, available on Amazon.