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David said in Psalm 23:5b, “My cup overflows.”

Think with me about the purpose of a cup. It’s meant to be able to hold something, right? In David’s case, he was talking about how God so filled his life, how God’s presence was so everywhere with him, that his life or his cup overflowed because of the goodness of God in it. David’s cup overflowed because it was filled with the presence of God.

David made sure he was drinking the things, spiritually speaking, that would fill his cup. He dumped the sin out of his cup by confessing his need for forgiveness. He was spending time with God. He was exalting God. He was praising Him. When we fill our cups with the Lord, when we fill our lives we God, we can expect some fizz. We can expect some bubbling up. We can expect God, because He is expansive, because He is full of life and energy, because His power and love know no limit, we can expect Him to fill every space where He is invited, so much so, that He spills out of our lives in ways that cause us to be aware of Him and thankful for His presence in our lives.

Perhaps we need to examine our lives, to look at what we may be filling them with lest the Spirit of God depart from us and we aren’t even aware of it. What are some things that block the flow of blessing into our lives? I want to suggest four blessing blockers, four things that can keep you from having a life that is overflowing with the goodness of God.

JEALOUSY-Proverbs 14:30-A heart at peace gives life to the body, but envy rots the bones.

Jealousy is a progressive issue, and it can become a stronghold in our lives. It keeps us from being happy for other people. Could I suggest that Jealousy is disrespectful to God. The Bible tells us to rejoice with those who rejoice in Romans 12:15. That is God’s desire for us as believers. Jealousy keeps us from rejoicing with others which is a smack in the face to God who is Sovereign. He decides who gets what and when. When we are jealous of others it is like we are saying, “God, my blessings aren’t good enough. I want someone else’s blessings.” Jealousy can lead to negative emotions about others. It can turn to dislike and even hate.

Jealousy not only blocks God’s blessings, but it is a love blocker. We can’t love others well if we are jealous of them. Jealousy causes us to judge people’s hearts and motives. It can lead to us talking negatively about people which is gossip which is still a sin, amen? I could go on, but you get the point. Jealousy will fill us and consume us so that the blessing of God is stifled in our lives. It will take over the cup that God wants to bless and overflow.

The second thing I would suggest to you that blocks God’s blessing in your life is:

UNFORGIVENESS

Mark 11:25 And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive him, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins.

I am not going to say that it is always easy to forgive, especially if you are a new Christian. But I will say to those of us who have walked with Christ for years, if we aren’t willing to forgive, if we aren’t working diligently to forgive, if we are making it difficult for people to receive grace from us, we are just playing church.

Forgiveness is the ministry of Jesus. If we have received it, we are called to share it.

A third blessing blocker is:

PRIDE

Many of us have needs that we can and do conceal. We spend a lot of effort trying to make sure we manage our own messes, our own weaknesses, because pride makes sure we protect ourselves, protect our image, protect our reputations. Perhaps Jesus calls to you during church services like this one, but to come would be to admit a need, and pride tells you to stay put and stay quiet, and maybe more often than not, you listen.

Pride hides. Humility seeks. We receive blessing from God when we seek Him. Hebrews 11:6 says that God rewards those who diligently seek Him. If you aren’t experiencing a life of blessing, take a moment and evaluate how pride might be keeping you from experiencing all God has for you. God can’t fill what we won’t empty.

The last thing I would suggest to you that could block your blessings and keep your cup from overflowing is:

WORLDLINESS

There is a way that God wants us to live because He wants us to have abundant life. The way the world lives won’t lead to abundant life. It will keep us chasing the next new thing, the next fad, the next pleasure, and more of what we already have.

1 John 2:15-16 15  Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16  For everything in the world–the cravings of sinful man, the lust of his eyes and the boasting of what he has and does–comes not from the Father but from the world.

You know what I am talking about when I say “the things of the world.” They are the things that advertisers tell us we must have and experience. They are the things we are told we have to do in order to look cool or to have it together. Those things become attention stealers, time suckers and eventually we make an idol out of them. The spaces of our hearts that were made for God are given to trinkets and treasures and experiences that can’t satisfy. When we stuff our lives with worldliness we can expect God to take His hand of blessing off of ours lives.

Let’s pray that God will help us create space for Him this Thanksgiving so that He can fill our lives to overflowing. We are already blessed, but there is always more to receive through Christ! Take care of what is blocking your blessings today. Let’s be like David, aware of God’s blessings and counting our blessings as they overflow.

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