Unrealized Blessings

Ps. 21:3  For You go before him with the blessings of goodness...

During the Thanksgiving holiday, I ran across the following quote by A. W. Tozer.

Perhaps it takes a purer faith to praise God for unrealized blessings than for those we once enjoyed or those we enjoy now.

It reminded me that God's blessings completely surround us (Ps. 32:10).  We've enjoyed them in the past, are enjoying them now, and will enjoy them in the future.

It's easy to be thankful and to praise Him for past and present blessings.  We can see them.  But it is difficult, especially if we now find ourselves in the middle of trials or afflictions, to praise Him for future, unrealized blessings because we can't see them.  That's where faith comes in.  It is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not (yet) seen (Heb. 11:1).  It is during these difficult times that we must be convinced, fully persuaded that God has gone before us and has already provided our future blessings.  This "purer" faith, as Tozer puts it, allows us to praise God for them in advance.  For our unrealized blessings.

No better example is given in Scripture of God preceding us with blessings than this:

Rom. 5:8  But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

At a time when mankind certainly was in a difficult, hopeless situation, wallowing in it's sinfulness, God went ahead of us and provided the unrealized blessing of Jesus Christ.

In faith, praise God in advance.  Be convinced and fully persuaded that He's already gone ahead of you and provided your future, unrealized blessings.


Sock Monkey Snippet:  Praise God in advance for your future blessings.