Are You Truly Blessed?
Are You Truly Blessed?
As we step into a new year, I want to begin with an image many of us understand well: the corporate world. In any workplace, there are employees who keep their jobs, and there are others who receive bonuses, promotions, and raises. Everyone enjoys the grace of continued employment, but not everyone receives the rewards that come with dedication, obedience to expectations, and faithful performance.
In much the same way, God’s grace allows us to remain under His covering even when we fall short. But His blessings, His promotions, His victories, and His favor often come as a result of obedience and alignment with His will. Grace keeps us in the family. Blessing advances us in the Kingdom.
Aren’t Grace and Blessings Two Sides of the Same Coin?
Grace and blessing are often confused, yet Scripture makes a clear distinction. Grace is God’s unearned provision and His power at work in us to accomplish His will. “For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God” (Ephesians 2:8). Grace is the divine enabling that we could never deserve. It is God giving us what we need to do what He asks, even when we could never earn it. Grace forgives. Grace sustains. Grace opens the door.
Blessing, however, is not merely survival. Blessings are the fruit of obedience. The Lord told Israel, “Now it shall be, if you diligently obey the Lord your God… all these blessings will come upon you and overtake you” (Deuteronomy 28:1–2). In other words, blessing is conditional. It follows alignment. It is connected to faithfulness. Blessings are not automatic simply because we exist under grace. Blessing is God honoring our choices when we honor His will. While grace is a gift, blessing is a response.
This distinction matters because many believers assume that because they possess grace, they are automatically blessed. This is so not so, and why so many never truly live that abundant life the bible speaks often about.
What Does It Mean to Diligently Obey?
When Scripture says, “if you diligently obey the Lord your God” (Deuteronomy 28:1), it is not describing flawless behavior. It is describing faithful direction. Diligent obedience means consistently choosing God’s way over our own, even when it is inconvenient or uncomfortable. It is a daily posture of listening, submitting, and responding. The word “diligently” implies intentional effort, careful attention, and perseverance over time. God’s blessings follow those who do not merely hear His Word, but who actively align their lives with it. Obedience is not agreement in thought, but submission in action.
Practical Applications for Daily Victorious Living
Walk in obedience, not assumption. Do not presume blessings. Seek alignment. Examine your choices, attitudes, and priorities. Blessing follows obedience, not wishful thinking.
Use grace as empowerment, not entitlement. Grace is not permission to remain unchanged. It is power to walk in God’s will. Let grace strengthen discipline, holiness, and commitment.
Pursue God’s will, not merely His provision. The blessed life is not about what God can give, but about living where He has called you. Seek His direction, and blessing will follow.
One Final Thought
The New Year invites us to examine ourselves: Are we simply preserved, or are we prospering? Grace gives opportunity. Blessing reveals obedience. Grace provides the foundation. Blessing builds upon it. Grace supplies the tools. Blessing is the finished structure. Grace keeps us in relationship with God, but blessing develops that relationship into maturity, fruitfulness, and impact.
As we enter this new year, let us be grateful for grace, but let us not stop there. Grace is God keeping you in the race. Blessing is God helping you finish well. If we desire true blessing, we must choose obedience. If we desire favor, we must walk in His ways. If we desire spiritual promotion, we must submit to His purpose.
Begin this year with a simple yet bold prayer:
“Lord, thank You for Your grace. Lead me into obedience, so that I may live in Your blessing.”
Because the question is not simply, “Do you have grace?” The real question is this: Are you truly blessed?
Experience a New Life in Jesus Christ
If you have not yet experienced the life-changing power of a relationship with Christ, we invite you to open your heart to Him today. Embrace the truth of His resurrection and embark on a journey of transformation, guided by His presence and fueled by His mission of love and redemption.
The Bible teaches us in Romans 10:9-10 that “If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved; for with the heart one believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth one confesses, resulting in salvation.”
Do it today and start enjoying a new life in Jesus Christ.
Take the next step in your spiritual growth. Unlock God’s truth in a deeper way and strengthen your walk with Christ. Subscribe now to receive life-changing lessons from Second Ridge Ministries.
Scriptures for this Bible Study taken from the New American Standard Bible (NASB), © 2026 The Lockman Foundation. Used with permission. www.Bible.com
“Are You Truly Blessed?” is a Christian Bible Teaching presented by Second Ridge Ministries
01/16/2026 | © 2026 Second Ridge Ministries. All Rights Reserved.
Your generous donations help us continue spreading the message of God’s grace and reaching more people with our content. Every contribution makes a difference. Thank you for your support.
Or you may send your check or money order to: Second Ridge Ministries, 1625 Trancas Street, Suite 2644, Napa, CA 94558
Or you may donate online: https://donate.stripe.com/14kaFb5VBbOEfHq3cc
Thank you for supporting Second Ridge Ministries! Help us spread the message of God’s grace by sharing this post with your friends and family. Together, we can reach more hearts and minds.
~ The Second Ridge Ministries Team