Spiritual Blessing

This is something that has been in my thoughts for a couple of months now, and daily surfaces to the forefront of my mind. So I am writing this out of conviction and wanted to share what the Lord is teaching me. This thought began while I was reading Shadow of the Almighty by Elisabeth Elliot, a book about the life and testament of Jim Elliot, a martyr for the faith in the 1950s. If you have not read this book, DO IT! It is a very challenging and encouraging book reflecting the life of a man of great faith and passion for the Lord. Jim had written a journal entry discussing the idea of spiritual blessing. He stated that we so often pray for financial blessing in our life, but how often do we pray for spiritual blessing, is it not of more importance? At the time of reading this, it struck me as a new thought. I remembering thinking 'how true, why have i never thought of that'. oh how often we pray for financial blessings. Not only for ourselves, but also for others. So often we recieve a letter from friends preparing for ministry and asking for support, they ask that we pray that the funds would be provided. In this season of life, financial blessing is a daily prayer. But I cannot say the same about spiritual blessings in my life. Why do we not pray for spiritual blessings in our lives or in the lives of others? Is it perhaps not as important to us? Are we not as worried or concerned about growing spiritually, being spiritually blessed, or spiritually stretched? I admit that this is not in the front of my thoughts nor does it make me an anxious. During the past few months as this thought continues moment by moment, The Lord is continuously pointing me to
Matthew 6:25-34

25 “Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? 26 Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? 27 And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? 28 And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, 29 yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. 30 But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? 31 Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. 33 But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. 34 “Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.

I cannot read this passage without finding comfort and yet be challenged. Why do we worry and put so much time and effort into asking for financial blessings? Is the Lord not going to provide. Since moving to Kentucky, our finances have become less and we wonder where the money is going to come from, BUT there has not been a moment where we were left in need or without. Our God is so Faithful, He tells us in His Word that He will provide, and He does! Oh how He does! We may not be rich, but we are well taken care of. Why not pray that we be rich in mind, heart and soul? I would much rather be spiritually rich than rich as the world defines it. Let us Seek first the Kingdom of God and His Righteousness!