John 10:10, "The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full."

Think

God is the ultimate Cake Boss. But as we know, acknowledging that in our lives isn't always easy. To put it simply, life is a cake fight, and we are battling with a very real enemy that's doing everything he can to keep us from winning. He sneaks up at the most inopportune times and whispers to us, "You should be the cake boss! You made the cake, so don't let anyone tell you how to slice it!" Don't buy Satan's lies. Don't let him take the cake! If you do, you will never be satisfied, and you will always feel hungry. Conversely, when we acknowledge the real Cake Boss – God – we realize that He wants to add layers upon layers of blessing and purpose in our lives. #Blessed is one of the most widely used and misused hashtags on social media. We associate blessing with positive circumstances, wealth, comfort, and health. But what happens when we're devastated from loss, sickness, or other difficult circumstances? Are we no longer blessed? Yes, we are! In fact, if we know Christ personally and obey His commands, we are extremely blessed. Because it's within such times of difficulty that we develop greater intimacy with God. So, in the truest sense of the word, being "blessed" is the ability to have an attitude of gratitude and experience peace and joy no matter the situation or circumstance. Within the cake fight of life, we need to actively put God first. And one of the best ways to do that is to bring back the first portion of our income to the local church. Because when we do, we'll not only show the devil who's Boss, we'll be positioned to receive layers upon layers of blessing. But the greatest blessing of all isn't financial wealth or perfect health, it's God Himself. Only through Him, the ultimate Cake Boss, can we truly discover the joy of living life to the full!

Act

The Apostle Paul understood the true meaning of what it means to be blessed by God. Even in the midst of extreme difficulty and persecution, he was able to find peace and joy. Read 2 Corinthians 9:6-15 and spend a few moments reflecting on the passage. Then read it again and journal whatever thoughts come to mind.

Pray

Father God, thank You for Your countless blessings. Help me to remain focused on living out Your priorities in order to accomplish all the great things You have in store for my life. And may I never forget that my relationship with You is the greatest blessing of all. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen.