Jesus lifts up His eyes to His Father and spends all night in prayer. He does it so that He can lift up His eyes on His disciples and teach them.

If you want to be carrying God’s word to God’s people, then you have to first receive God’s word from God.

If you want to have fruit from carrying God’s word to God’s people, then you have to first start in prayer. That’s where the work is accomplished. If you aren’t asking God to do the work, then you are thinking you are doing it. What we accomplish will never produce lasting fruit. Eternal fruit has to come from an eternal source, only the Holy Spirit is going to bring it about.

The blessing of the Holy Spirit in us is a marvel we should never cease to be amazed by. God is with us. He was present with Jesus to heal and people knew it. They wanted to get close enough to touch Him because power came out.

We are blessed when we follow God. We know that everyone who desires to live a godly life will be persecuted. Jesus says we’re blessed for it. We’re blessed when people hate us and exclude us and call us evil because of Jesus.

That kind of thing happening to you may not be just because you are a Christian. It can happen to you from other Christians because you live a godly life and it convicts them. It can come your way because of your righteous choices. It doesn’t just have to be because you are Christian.

Our response to being hated and excluded is to rejoice and leap for joy. I know I have failed to have that reaction. Self-pity, though, is not a godly response. Praise always is.

Jesus also speaks of blessings and woes. He turns them on their heads. In America we say we are blessed when we have money and friends and such. Jesus calls the woes down on them and calls blessed the poor and hungry and weeping.

When we are lacking, then we need a Savior. When we have all, what do we seek? It’s a blessing to know you need Jesus.