I’m not going to bless you in gambling, but I will bless you another way.

"I’m not going to bless you in gambling, but I will bless you another way.”

A while back we were at a Christmas party for Cameron’s work.  They had a really nice buffet dinner and a beautiful prayer and blessing.  After dinner they had Bingo and prizes.  There were Bingo cards already set out on the tables for everyone and they announced that the prize was going to be $100.

A few tables away from us had several people who won the first two rounds (there allowed for multiple people to win, each getting the full prize amount).

Then, I did what any daughter of Christ would do… I asked my Father for what I wanted.  I prayed and said, “Dad, I really want to win that $100 so will you please let me win on this next round?”

His reply to me shocked me as He said, “I am not going to bless you in gambling, but I will bless you another way.”

Confused, I thought, this isn’t gambling!  I didn’t use my own money to bet on something, and I used to play this all the time as a child with my sister and Grandmother.  So of course, I replied to Him and said, “This isn’t gambling, this is Bingo.”  There was silence, but I can only imagine Him shaking His head and thinking… “Child, seriously, are you really going to tell ME what this IS!”  

After no response, I said to Him, “I don’t understand, why are these other people allowed to win, but not me?”  To which he replied, “Look around, do they show fruit of the Spirit?”  I looked over at the winning table and it was filled with beer bottles, and it was apparent that they had a lot to drink.  You can tell they were acting of the world and not of Jesus.  

I of course did not win, and then the prizes started to increase in the amount they were giving out.

Once in the car after the party I took my phone out checking missed messages.  I saw that I had a message from Joanna and she said she was doing dishes and then heard the Holy Spirit tell her to send me a gift card.  She stopped what she was doing and sent me a gift card, for guess how much!  The EXACT amount I was asking Jesus for earlier!  As He said, He was going to bless me in another way and He sure did!

“Therefore “Come out from among them And be separate, says the Lord. Do not touch what is unclean, And I will receive you (2 Corinthians 6:17).”

“...To whom much is given, from him much will be required…(Luke 12:48).”

When we go deeper with the Lord, there will be things he will want you to part with.  There will be things that you didn’t even realize were compromise until the Holy Spirit reveals it.  Always obey, and lay down whatever it is He asks of you.  The more we burn off of ourselves, the more space there is for Him to fill that area!  There is nothing worth disobedience in not giving up for Him.  Do not compromise, when He says let go, don’t just let go but throw it as far and fast as you can and never pick it back up!  Pray and ask Him if there is anything that you are holding onto that displeases Him and needs to go!  Seek His face and seek His presence above all else!