The Blessing Test

"And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him." — Colossians 3:17
 
Is there anything in your life right now that you would be embarrassed to ask God to bless?
 
Here's a simple question I've learned to ask myself over the years, and it has saved me from a lot of foolishness. If I cannot ask God to bless what I am doing or what I am saying, maybe I ought not to be doing it or saying it.
 
That one question will clear things up in a hurry. Try it on the deal you're about to sign at work. Try it on the show you're about to turn on tonight. Try it on the text message you're about to send when you're angry. Picture yourself bowing your head and saying, "Lord, would You bless this?" If the words stick in your throat, you already have your answer.
 
Paul tells us to do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus. That means you're signing His name to it. When you represent a company, you don't sign contracts the company would never approve. And when you belong to Christ, you're representing Him in the boardroom, the break room, and the family room.
 
Many believers live with one set of rules on Sunday and another set on Monday. We come to church and sing about holiness, and then we go do business like everybody else. That's called hypocrisy, by the way. You can't live a splintered life without getting full of splinters, and splinters have a way of sticking other people the wrong way.
 
The good news is that this test also sets you free. When you can honestly ask God to bless what you're doing, you don't have to look over your shoulder. You can work with a clear conscience and a thankful heart.
 
So before you make your next decision today, stop and ask the question. Can I ask God to bless this? If you can, go for it with everything you've got. If you can't, let it go and ask Him what He'd rather have you do.