Praying God's great and precious promises: Great Rewards.

I am praying God’s 250 great and precious promises in the New Testament from Matthew to Revelation over my spouse, children, and loved ones.  I’m on promise number 14.  If you missed the others you can find them here. 

Today’s promise is GREAT REWARDS.  There are several scriptures that give us the reasons God promises us great rewards.  Matthew 5:12, God gives us great rewards in heaven for persecution because of Him (see Blessing for Persecution post), “Rejoice, and be exceedingly glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way, they persecuted the prophets who were before you.  Matthew 6:4, God tells us as we give to charity and to the poor do it in secret and then He who sees in secret will reward us openly.  In Matthew 6:6, God says when you pray, don’t do it to be seen and think “look at me everyone” but go in your room and closes the door and prays to the Father who is unseen.  Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. In Matthew 6:18, God tells us if we fast to fast unto Him in secret and the Father who sees in secret shall reward thee openly.  Luke 6:35 says, “Love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting anything back.  Then your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, because He is kind to the ungrateful and the wicked. Hebrews 10:35 says our confidence will be rewarded.  “So do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded.”

God is clear He gives us great rewards for our persecution.  He gives us great rewards for not broadcasting when we give to the poor and needy.  He gives us great rewards when we don’t try to draw attention to ourselves when we pray.  He gives us great rewards when we don’t advertise to people we are fasting.  God gives us great rewards when we love, do good, and lend to our enemies without expecting anything in return.  God gives us great rewards for our confidence as it relates to His word. 
 
Father, we thank You for Your promise of GREAT REWARDS.  I see in scripture You tell us exactly what we need to do or not do to receive this promise.  Lord, I lift up my spouse to You today, I lift up my children and other loved ones and I lift up myself to You and ask for You to show us areas in our life where we pray, give, fast, do good or have confidence from selfish ambition or we do these to draw attention to ourselves.  Father, show us early when pride starts rising up in us.  Cause our ears to hear Your still small voice but also let us be eager once we hear You to change in the areas You are asking us to change.  Encourage each of us as we pray and fast in private and as we love and do good to our enemies without wanting anything in return.  Lord, as we submit to Your ways and Your will, give each of us more opportunities to pray and fast for people. Increase and bless our finances so we can give more to the poor and needy. Let us not miss an opportunity to love our enemies and do good to them, for Your word says You are even kind to the unthankful and the evil person.  Lord, if any of us lack Godly confidence if any of us lack in a firm trust in You help us to have that kind of confidence.  Help us to have free and fearless confidence, to have cheerful courage, boldness and assurance.  I thank You today, Lord, for Your promise of great rewards for each of us.  In Jesus’ name Amen.