August 9, 2026
AM Pastor Alton Midgett Jr
Matthew 6:33, Psalm 37:4, Proverbs 3:9-10, Micah 6:8, 2 Corinthians 12:9
Many Christians desire to experience the blessings of God, but we often misunderstand what that means and how it happens. God's blessings are not bestowed upon us out of obligation, nor is God a slot machine where we insert good deeds to get what we want. True blessing begins with a fundamental shift in our priorities. As Jesus taught in Matthew 6:33, we are called to seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness. When God gets first place in our hearts, our daily routines, and our decisions, everything else finds its proper place. We do not lose anything by putting God first; rather, we finally learn how to handle everything He gives us.
To walk in a way that invites God's favor, we must practice daily obedience, delighting ourselves in Him through genuine worship. Delighting in the Lord means recognizing His beautiful holiness and allowing that awe to transform our desires. Furthermore, we invite God's blessing when we honor Him with our substance and actively look for ways to be a blessing to others. God gives us resources with the expectation that we will share them. When we give our time, finances, and care to others, we discover the profound truth that we receive a far greater blessing by being a blessing than by simply seeking to get one.
Finally, experiencing God's blessing requires a proper perspective on life's difficulties. Being blessed by God does not guarantee an easy life without trials or pain. Sometimes God's blessing looks like protection from something we mistakenly thought we wanted, or it manifests as divine strength when we face a battle we didn't ask for. Just as God told the Apostle Paul when he suffered with his thorn in the flesh, His grace is always sufficient. Ultimately, the secret to the blessed life is simple: we must stop chasing God's blessings and start chasing God Himself. When you have God, you already have the greatest blessing possible.
Key takeaways
- When God gets first place in your life, everything else naturally finds its proper place.
- Delighting in the Lord is an intentional act of worship that ultimately transforms the desires of your heart.
- God expects us to use what He has given us to bless others, knowing we get a blessing by being a blessing.
- Do not confuse experiencing God's blessings with living an easy life; sometimes His blessing is the strength to endure a trial.
- The greatest secret to the blessed life is to stop pursuing God's blessings and to start pursuing God Himself.
- Day 1Matthew 6:25-33
Seeking God First
We live in a world that constantly demands our attention, pulling us toward worries about our careers, our finances, and our futures. Yet, Jesus gives us a simple, profound directive: seek first the kingdom of God. As Pastor Alton reminded us, the first part of everything belongs to God—the first part of our day, our attention, our finances, and our hearts. When our greatest desire is to please God rather than just asking Him to bless us, our lives align properly. We do not put God first simply to get something from Him; we put Him first because He is God. When He takes His rightful place on the throne of our hearts, we don’t lose out on life’s joys; instead, we gain the divine wisdom needed to handle everything else. Let us make the conscious choice today to put our rights on the back burner and God’s kingdom on the front burner.
- Reflect
- What is one specific area of your life where you have struggled to put God first, and how can you change that today?
- Prayer
- Lord, forgive me for the times I have allowed my worries and desires to take first place. Help me to seek Your kingdom and Your righteousness above all else. Amen.
- Day 2Psalm 37:4-7
The Delight of Worship
The command to delight thyself also in the Lord is frequently misunderstood as a transactional promise, as if God were a cosmic slot machine. But taking exquisite delight in the Lord is actually a profound call to worship. It is an intentional recognition of God’s beautiful holiness. Just as a beautiful sight naturally turns our heads and captures our attention, recognizing the majesty and goodness of God should capture our hearts. When we worship Him and serve Him with gladness, something supernatural happens within us: our desires begin to change. God reshapes our minds and our hearts so that what we want aligns perfectly with what He wants for us. We must practice delighting in Him even as we serve Him, refusing to let duty turn into burnout. Take time today to simply adore your Savior for who He is.
- Reflect
- How can you intentionally plan to delight in the Lord and worship Him in the beauty of His holiness today?
- Prayer
- Father, keep me from treating You like a transactional God. Open my eyes to Your beautiful holiness, and change the desires of my heart to match Yours. Amen.
- Day 3Proverbs 11:24-25
Being a Blessing
Throughout Scripture, a remarkable principle stands out: God blesses people so that they can, in turn, bless others. When God called Abraham, He promised to bless him with the explicit expectation that Abraham would be a blessing to the world. We are incredibly spoiled and often forget how much God has already entrusted to us. Sometimes we ask God for a greater blessing while He is waiting to see how we handle what we already have. Being a blessing and getting a blessing are not two separate transactions; they happen simultaneously. When you pour yourself out to help, encourage, or provide for someone else, God ensures that your own soul is replenished. The liberal soul shall be made fat. If you are feeling unfulfilled in your Christian walk, look around. Find someone to help, and watch how God meets your needs in the process.
- Reflect
- Who has God placed in your path this week that you can intentionally be a blessing to?
- Prayer
- Lord, thank You for the abundant ways You have already blessed me. Please give me a generous heart and show me how I can be a tangible blessing to someone else today. Amen.
- Day 4Micah 6:6-8
Walking Humbly
The prophet Micah breaks down God’s requirement for His people into three simple instructions: do justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with your God. We often expend a great deal of energy chasing after God's blessings, hoping to find peace, prosperity, or comfort. However, God resists the proud and gives grace to the humble. If we want to walk in the favor of God, we must stop chasing the blessing and start practicing humility and justice. Falling in love with mercy means we readily extend forgiveness and compassion to those around us, just as God has mercifully dealt with us. Walking humbly requires us to acknowledge that we are completely dependent on God for every breath. When we let go of our pride and commit to walking in step with the Spirit, we discover that God Himself is the ultimate reward we have been searching for all along.
- Reflect
- In what ways might pride be hindering your walk with God, and how can you practice loving mercy this week?
- Prayer
- Heavenly Father, search my heart and remove any pride that creates a barrier between us. Teach me to do justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with You every day. Amen.
- Day 52 Corinthians 12:7-10
The Proper Perspective
A proper perspective on the Christian life is vital for our spiritual survival. We must never confuse being blessed by God with having an easy, pain-free life. Sometimes, God’s greatest blessings come disguised as closed doors, providing divine protection from things we mistakenly desired. Other times, His blessings manifest as supernatural strength in the middle of a battle we never asked to fight. The Apostle Paul prayed earnestly for God to remove his thorn in the flesh, but God's response was, My grace is sufficient for thee. Whether you are facing a physical ailment, an emotional trial, or a financial hardship, God's grace is enough to carry you through. True blessing is not the absence of suffering; it is the comforting, empowering presence of God within our suffering. Let us pursue God rather than comfort, resting in the sufficiency of His grace.
- Reflect
- How does knowing that God's grace is sufficient change your perspective on the current trials you are facing?
- Prayer
- Lord, I confess that I often want an easy life more than a holy one. Thank You that Your grace is sufficient for my every weakness. Help me to trust Your purposes in my pain. Amen.
Open together
- 1.If you had to define the 'blessing of God' based on how the world views it versus how a Christian should view it, what are the biggest differences?
- 2.Share a time when you received a blessing by being a blessing to someone else.
Observation
- 1.According to Matthew 6:33, what are the two things Jesus commands us to seek first, and what is the promise attached to this command?
- 2.Read Psalm 37:4. Based on the sermon, what does the Hebrew concept of 'delighting' in the Lord actually involve, rather than just waiting for Him to grant our wishes?
- 3.In Micah 6:8, what are the three specific things the Lord requires of His people?
Interpretation
- 1.Pastor Alton noted that God's blessing isn't always material prosperity; sometimes it looks like protection or strength for a battle. How does 2 Corinthians 12:9 support this view of a blessed life?
- 2.Proverbs 11:25 states that 'he that watereth shall be watered also himself.' Why do you think God designed the spiritual life so that we receive fulfillment through giving rather than just receiving?
- 3.The pastor stated, 'Don't pursue God's blessings, pursue God himself.' How does this statement challenge the modern 'name it and claim it' theology mentioned at the end of the sermon?
Application
- 1.What is one practical way you can put God first in your time, finances, or decisions this coming week?
- 2.The pastor warned against treating God like a transactional slot machine. Are there areas in your prayer life where you find yourself focusing more on what you want from God rather than who God is? How can you shift to true worship?
- 3.Take an inventory of the resources God has already entrusted to you. What is a specific 'small step of faith' you can take this week to use those resources to bless a neighbor, coworker, or ministry?
Memory verse
“But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.”
Matthew 6:33
Put God First Because He Is God
0:46Why life feels upside down when we forget to seek God first.
Why Christians Burn Out: Delight in the Lord
0:49Serving without delighting in God is the fast track to burnout.
Chase God, Not the Blessing
0:45Do justly, love mercy, walk humbly — and stop chasing the blessing.
Blessed Doesn't Mean an Easy Life
0:27Practicing proper perspective on what God's blessing really looks like.
God is not a slot machine. If you want to experience His blessing, stop chasing the blessing and start chasing the One who gives it. — AM Pastor Alton Midgett Jr | Micah 6:8
#ChaseGod #Micah68 #WestsideBaptistChurch #SundaySermon
Seek first the kingdom of God. Not as a transaction, not as leverage — but because He is God. When He gets first place, everything else finds its proper place. — AM Pastor Alton Midgett Jr | Matthew 6:33
#SeekFirst #Matthew633 #WestsideBaptistChurch #FaithFirst
Serving God without delighting in God is the fastest road to burnout. Put your rights on the back burner and your delight in Him on the front burner. — AM Pastor Alton Midgett Jr | Psalm 37:4
#DelightInTheLord #Psalm374 #WestsideBaptistChurch #ServeWithJoy
Sometimes God's blessing is protection from what you thought you wanted. Sometimes it's the strength for a battle you never asked for. His grace is sufficient. — AM Pastor Alton Midgett Jr | 2 Corinthians 12:9
#HisGraceIsSufficient #2Corinthians12 #WestsideBaptistChurch #Blessed