GROW UP

“God blessed Ishmael, and as the boy grew older, he became an expert with his bow and arrows. He lived in the Paran Desert, and his mother chose an Egyptian woman for him to marry.” (Genesis 21: 20 CEV)

That is the Focal Scripture of Streams of Joy Devotional today.

Our Focal Scripture speaks of how God blessed Ishmael, and he grew older to become an expert with his bows and arrows. In the sequence of the narrative, a blessing came upon Ishmael, and he grew. Ishmael did not begin and end with just being blessed. He also grew. He moved from blessing to growth. He moved from receiving from God, to becoming a better version of himself. He added growth to his blessings.

Friend, in 2026, add growth to your blessings. As God blesses you with opportunities, be intentional to grow up in all your ways. Go beyond the blessings of the Lord on your life, and add personal growth to yourself. Be intentional to grow your skills; grow your speech; grow your capacity; grow your intellect; grow your emotional intelligence; grow your understanding; grow your character; grow in wisdom, stature and favour.

The blessings of the Lord on Ishmael did not mean that he no longer needed to grow. The fact that God blessed Ishmael did not mean that he didn’t need skills. As God blesses you, you owe yourself a responsibility of growing and becoming an expert in the works of your hands. As God blesses and raises you, you have a responsibility to intentionally become a better person. Be intentional to grow up. Be intentional to raise your game.

The blessings of the Lord upon the life of Ishmael found expression in the works of his hands as he became an expert in the use of his bow and arrows. Do not limit the blessings of God on your life to what He is able to give you physically. Also allow the blessings of God on you to empower you to do more than you are currently doing. Let the blessings of God cause you to do more and be more. Let the blessings of God spur you to grow.

Don’t let your blessings from God deter you from growing in every sphere of life. This is that year where you should consider and intentionally work towards being an expert with your ‘bows’ and ‘arrows’.

Luke 2: 52 says: “And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man.”

Declare With Me: In 2026, I make the choice to grow on all sides and dimensions, in Jesus’ name!

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