It is possible for a blessing from God to later turn into a curse. Ephraim was so blessed that at a point he forgot God. Deuteronomy 8:7-18 warns against forgetting God after the Lord has prospered you. Deuteronomy 8:17 says:
“And thou say in thine heart, My power and the might of mine hand hath gotten me this wealth.”
This warning is still relevant to us today because even when it is not voiced out, it is implied by many who have achieved great things that they achieved them because they are smarter, wiser or more talented than others. You surely have forgotten the source of your victory if you accept the commendations of men, probably in a public gathering, that your achievements were made possible by hard work. Many are working harder than you yet they are far from getting to the height you have reached. Good success is more than skill. It is more than tact or hard work. You cannot have it without God’s backing.

How can you prove to God that you have not forgotten that he is the One who blessed you in the first place? It is when you put Him first in all you do. Malachi 3:8-10 says if you rob Him of His tithe, He will place you under a curse, but if you bring your full tithe, He will open the windows of Heaven to release more blessings on you. If you have not forgotten your source of blessing, you will tithe before spending whatever He gives you. In Genesis 22:1-18, after Abraham finally got a son from God, he was put to test to see if he loved the gift or the Giver more. God asked him to go and sacrifice Isaac and Abraham obeyed; but before he could kill the boy, God stopped him and pronounced an irreversible blessing on him. Are you ready to part with that valuable thing that God has given to you as proof that you have not forgotten Him? What is so dear to your heart that you are not prepared to give to God? That should be the first thing to give to Him to convince Him that you remember He is your source. Never touch what is His - pay your tithe in full or even exceed it. Show Him you appreciate and love Him beyond any gift He gives to you.

Memorise:
And thou say in thine heart, My power and the might of mine hand hath gotten me this wealth.
Deuteronomy 8:17

Read:
Deuteronomy 8:7-14

Bible in one year:
Deuteronomy 12-13
Job 4:7-21

Key point:
If you are convinced that God is your source, there will be nothing He has given to you that you cannot return to Him, including your life.

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Culled from Open Heavens daily devotional for July 15, 2014 by Pastor E.A Adeboye.
Visit www.dailydevotionalsonline.com everyday to read a daily devotional.

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