Deuteronomy 8

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Deuteronomy 8:17-18, You may say to yourself, “My power and the strength of my hands have produced this wealth for me.” But remember the Lord your God, for it is he who gives you the ability to produce wealth, and so confirms his covenant, which he swore to your ancestors, as it is today.

There is a clear connection between covenant and blessing.  If the people of God follow God's commands and hold up their end of the covenant, then God will bless them.  This chapter focuses on that blessing.  God blessed the people in the desert and he will bless them in the promised land.  However, there is also a stern warning found in the focus verses for today.  As the time passes and the people experience the goodness of the land, they may be tempted to forget that God is the one who provided it for them, that God is the source of their blessing. 

How often do we forget that God is the source of our blessing?  We fall into the trap of believing that what we have is the source of our own hard work and effort.  While we may have worked hard, God is the one who gave us the opportunity and the ability to work, to earn money, and to provide for our families.  Really, everything we have has been given to us by God.  Take some time to give thanks to God today.

Let's pray...Dear Lord, Thank you for all you have provided for us.  Thank you for the ability to learn, to work, and to help provide for others.  Thank you for being the source of all good things.  In Jesus' Name, Amen.