Barry Young - How to Live a Life of Blessing: A practical guide to walking in the blessing of God

Scripture taken from the New King James Version. Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Print ISBN: 978-1-54398-937-3

eBook ISBN: 978-1-54398-938-0

Copyright 2019 Barry Young

All rights reserved

DEDICATION

This book is dedicated to the pastors I have had the blessing of serving. Thank you Rev. Robert Fredericks, Dr. Ray Brewer, Rev. Bill Newby, Dr. Dan Carroll, Dr. Linda Jones, Rev. Todd Blansit, Rev. Brad Oyler, Rev. Kevin Smith and Rev. Matt Purkey. I have had the blessing to work with or for each of these pastors in some capacity. I love them and appreciate their deep influence on my life. Although they are all incredible preachers, the greatest message they preach is the way they live their lives.

ACKNOWLEDGMENT

I deeply love and appreciate these incredible people for their support, wisdom, and godly direction. They have been invaluable to my life!

Serving Pastors Partners: I would like to thank all of our ministry supporters and giving partners. We could not do what we do without your prayers and support. The constant flow of genuine love and encouragement you give inspires us to do what God has called us to do. You are making an eternal difference. We deeply love you and thank God for you.

Strategos International: I want to give special thanks to Vaughn and Glenda Baker as well as Mark and Leanda Warren. It is such a blessing and honor to work with them and Strategos International. Because of their efforts, countless lives have been saved and protected through the many trainings and programs Strategos provides worldwide.

My family: I cant begin to express how grateful I am for the overwhelming blessing and encouragement of my family. I am so rich from the amazing amount of love and support I have received from them. I love and appreciate you!

Kelly Young: I am grateful for the love, support, and wisdom of my wife. Her hard work on this project and all the projects I do is priceless. I am so thankful God has allowed me to be ministry partners with her, and more importantly, life partners. I love you!

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1. You Cannot Let the Current Facts Interfere
   with the Future Results

Introduction

I dont know one Christian who doesnt want to live a blessed life. However, sadly a majority of Christians are not genuinely living the life of blessing God desires for them. Living a life of blessing is not about being money focused. A wise man once said, Money never made a man rich and this saying is so true! Instead, living a life of blessing is about being God focused.

Would you consider that God wants you radically and outrageously blessed? Reflect on the following Old and New Testament scriptures that demonstrate the blessing of God:

• Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.
• John 10:10 I (Jesus) have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.
• Exodus 14:14 The Lord will fight for you, and you shall hold your peace.
• Romans 8:31 If God is for us, who can be against us?
• Deuteronomy 28:13 And the Lord will make you the head and not the tail; you shall be above only, and not be beneath.
• Luke 1:37 For with God nothing will be impossible.
• Isaiah 54:17 No weapon formed against you shall prosper.
• John 3:16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.

The Word of God makes it abundantly clear that God wants you blessed! So, what does it mean to live a life of blessing? It is doing what God has called you to do, being who God has called you to be, and having what God has called you to have. Let me repeat that statement again. Living a life of blessing is doing what God has called you to do, being who God has called you to be, and having what God has called you to have!

Lets briefly examine those three statements:

Doing what God has called you to do. No amount of money can truly make you happy if you are not doing what God has called you to do. Unfortunately, many Christians spend their lives doing something they were never called to do. There are many reasons why Christians get their lives out of the sweet spot God has for them. Some chase money, some are lazy, some wont consider the cost, some have committed sins they think disqualify them from Gods plan, and some have believed a lie from the devil. Living a life of blessing is living a life where you are doing exactly what God has created and called you to do.

Being who God has called you to be. God will never call you to be somebody else; he will always call you to be you. If your faith is in Jesus, you are a son or daughter of God. You are a Kings kid. Hollywood, social media, and this culture are creating false images to define success. The vast majority of people lack confidence and struggle with insecurities. The root cause of this issue is that most people just dont think they measure up. This thought is such a lie and a demonic attack from the devil and hell itself. When you know who you are in Jesus, you understand your worth is not derived from how you look, or how much money you make, or the position/title you hold. Your worth comes from the fact that Jesus Christ, the very Son of God, thought you were so valuable that he died on the cross for you. If Jesus Christ cherishes you so much that he was willing to lay down his life for you, how much more valuable can you be? Living a life of blessing is living a life where you become the person God wants you to be. Many Christians hide behind a mask and arent happy with who they really are. God wants you to be who he has called you to be.

Having what God wants you to have . First and foremost, God wants you to receive his Son, Jesus, and have eternal life with him. There is nothing more important in all the earth than for you to have a personal relationship with Jesus and to have the reassurance that your sins are forgiven. I believe this truth so strongly that in every book I write, it must have the plan and prayer of salvation in it. However, God not only wants your soul to be saved, he also desires that your family, friends, and coworkers be saved. God also wants you to have joy, peace, and for you to walk in authority and love. If you have all that God wants you to have, it doesnt matter how much money is in your bank account you are blessed!

As you read this book, I want the following truth to be cemented in your spirit, God wants you blessed! God wants you blessed! One more time, God wants you blessed! However, if you want to live a life of blessing, you have to position yourself to be blessed, and this book is dedicated to helping you do just that!

We are going to look at a small, yet powerful story found in Mark 11:20-24. In these verses are treasure troves of wisdom on how to position our lives to receive the blessings God wants to give us. The ultimate authority on blessing is Jesus. As we study this story, I hope these truths overwhelm you and help you position yourself to be blessed.

I pray over you and every person who reads this book this simple prayer:

Lord, help every reader of this book to do everything you want them to do, to be everything you want them to be, and lastly, to have everything you want them to have. In Jesus name I pray, Amen!

I love you. Be blessed!

Barry

You Speak Curses, You Get Curses