I don’t know how it began, but one day I found myself saying, “Lord, I receive your love today.” It felt good. I pictured soaking up rays of Son-shine and felt my body relax. God is love and loves us all the time, yet sometimes we don’t receive His love. That made me wonder what other blessings am I missing because I don’t receive them. And why don’t I receive them?

Jesus is the Alpha and Omega, or we might say He’s the whole alphabet. Just as our alphabet supplies every letter I need to write this, Jesus provides all I need to live well. Psalm 23:1 says that because the Lord is my shepherd, I have everything I need—not most of what I need.

Do you believe you have everything you need? Is there something you feel you are lacking? Those feelings are opportunities to look to our Lord and receive.

One day I prayed, “Lord, I receive your wisdom. You have said I have the mind of Christ. I receive Your wisdom for today.”

That night I faced some unexpected problems I wasn’t sure how to handle. I stumbled across an email that reminded me of someone who was skilled in that area. I picked up the phone and asked for help. She was glad to help.

In this case wisdom motivated me to ask for help and pointed me to the right person. It didn’t come as a new skill set. The next day when I remembered my prayer, I was amazed at how He had led me.

Jesus said, “seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well,” (Matt. 6:33, NIV). I miss God’s blessings when I focus on my perceived lack instead of on Him. I also miss out when I think I know better than God what I need.

God supplied manna for Israel in the wilderness, but they loathed it (Numbers 21:5). They wanted the familiar food of Egypt. But God had good reason for supplying manna. ^“In the wilderness He fed you manna which your fathers did not know, that He might humble you and that He might test you, to do good for you in the end. Otherwise, you may say in your heart, ‘My power and the strength of my hand made me this wealth.’ But you shall remember the Lord your God, for it is He who is giving you power to make wealth, that He may confirm His covenant which He swore to your fathers, as it is this day,” (Deuteronomy 8:16-18, NASB).

Sometimes God meets our needs but not our expectations. He has promised to provide everything we need, but He has not promised to provide in the way we expect.

What do you need? Will you open your heart today to receive it from God? Don’t miss the gift that comes in unexpected packaging.

Blessings,