Session 4

What happens when you take the little things for granted

From 2 Chronicles: A 28-Day Devotional

You’re watching your favorite show when everything goes dark. You wonder, How long will the power be out? How will I make dinner? Will I have hot water to shower? When will I find out how this episode ends? How much battery does my cell phone have? My laptop? 

How often do we take the things God’s provided for us for granted until we lose them? The people of Judah were the same way. Because of King Joash's obedience in building the temple and the people's worship, Judah prospered economically, financially, mentally, physically, and spiritually. Life was going well for the people of Judah until they turned their backs on God and put their faith and trust in themselves.

“They abandoned the temple of the Lord, the God of their ancestors, and worshiped Asherah poles and idols. Because of their guilt, God’s anger came on Judah and Jerusalem.” (2 Chronicles 24:18)

God is the source of all our blessings.

Judah turned to created things instead of the Creator. They took their eyes off the Provider and placed them on all He had provided because they took His provision for granted.  

Don’t we do the same thing?  When our lives are prospering financially, professionally, and/or relationally, it's easy to take God's blessing for granted and become self-sufficient and proud. But, the truth is God is the source of all our blessings.

So, how can we avoid taking God's blessings for granted? Before we start each day, we can take some time to thank God for all that He has given us. Then throughout our day, we can pause to remember all of God's blessings.

When we thank God for what He has given us and look back on all that He has done, we can't help but stay focused on His goodness and grace.

Reflect:

• What is one way that living in a land of prosperity has caused you to take God’s blessings for granted?
• What is one blessing in your life that you can thank God for right now?
• What is one step can you take to keep your focus on God’s blessings each day?