Completely Surrounded By God's Blessings

Completely Surrounded By God's Blessings

Several months ago, my Bible study group and I noticed various phrases that indicated the true child of God, the believer that has trusted in the Lord Jesus Christ for salvation, is totally surrounded by God’s blessings on his life.

This devotional is an attempt to glean from similar passages and see exactly what type of blessings our Heavenly Father has bestowed upon us. I do not know if there are any more similar phrases, but I found seven words or phrases along this theme.

A. Prevent:

The first one that comes to mind is from the Psalms:

Psalms 21:3 For thou preventest him with the blessings of goodness: thou settest a crown of pure gold on his head.

Webster’s 1828 Dictionary defines prevent as: “To go before; to precede; to favor by anticipation or by hindering distress or evil.”

God’s goodness goes before God’s children, and prepares the way for many things He has in store for us.

All the blessings we have from the Lord are because we are “in Christ.” Consider the following passages about the Lord’s goodness and His promises:

Ephesians 1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:

Psalms 31:19 Oh how great is thy goodness, which thou hast laid up for them that fear thee; which thou hast wrought for them that trust in thee before the sons of men!

Romans 2:4 Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?

2 Peter 1:3-4 According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue: Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.

God’s blessings enrich our lives in so many ways, and there is no sorrow or regret with them - just joy and strength in the Lord. Does your life abound with spiritual blessings? It can. See Proverbs 10:22 and 28:20.

I love this sevenfold promise:

Psalms 103:2-5
Bless the LORD, O my soul,
and forget not all his benefits:
1) Who forgiveth all thine iniquities;
2) who healeth all thy diseases;
3) Who redeemeth thy life from destruction;
4) who crowneth thee with lovingkindness
5) and tender mercies;
6) Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things;
7) so that thy youth is renewed like the eagle's.

Psalms 79:8 O remember not against us former iniquities: let thy tender mercies speedily prevent us: for we are brought very low.

God’s tender mercies and lovingkindness go before us. His tender mercies are His withholding of the judgement we so justly deserve for our sins (see Psalm 51:1), and these mercies go before us speedily - hurrying and hasting, suddenly bringing us into His presence with our sins and iniquities wiped out and with new mercies found in their place! New mercies every single day. (See Lamentations 3:22-23.)

Consider this sevenfold expression of God’s name (a name is who a person is, what they represent):

Exodus 34:5-7
And the LORD descended in the cloud, and stood with him there, and proclaimed the name of the LORD. And the LORD passed by before him, and proclaimed, The LORD, The LORD God,
1) merciful and gracious, 
2) longsuffering, 
3) and abundant in goodness and truth, 
4) Keeping mercy for thousands, 
5) forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, 
6) and that will by no means clear the guilty; 
7) visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children, and upon the children's children, unto the third and to the fourth generation.

B. Compass:

Webster’s 1828 Dictionary defines compass in this way: “To stretch round; to extend so as to embrace the whole; hence, to inclose, encircle, grasp or seize; as, to compass with the arms.”

Psalms 5:12 For thou, LORD, wilt bless the righteous; with favour wilt thou compass him as with a shield.

The Lord’s mercies go before us, and His favour surrounds us. Favour carries the idea of being delighted in something, being acceptable or pleasing to someone. We are accepted in the Beloved; the Father is well pleased in His Beloved Son (Matthew 3:17) - and we are placed in Christ. Because of Jesus, born again believers have found grace in the eyes of the Lord.

Ephesians 1:6 To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.

Colossians 3:3 For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.

Song of Songs 2:14 O my dove, that art in the clefts of the rock, in the secret places of the stairs, let me see thy countenance, let me hear thy voice; for sweet is thy voice, and thy countenance is comely.

Psalms 32:10 Many sorrows shall be to the wicked: but he that trusteth in the LORD, mercy shall compass him about.

Because of being surrounded by God’s mercy, truly we can be filled with and surrounded by songs of praise, even songs of deliverance (from our troubles, our trials, our inward struggles, our outward afflictions and enemies).

Psalms 32:7 Thou art my hiding place; thou shalt preserve me from trouble; thou shalt compass me about with songs of deliverance. Selah.

The greatest deliverance - from the wickedness of this world and from our flesh is still yet to come. The rapture is a time of hope and security for those trusting in the Lord Jesus Christ. (See 1 Thessalonians 4:18; 5:8, 11; and 2 Timothy 4:8.) Selah - pause and think of that!

C. Go Before:

Psalms 85:13 Righteousness shall go before him; and shall set us in the way of his steps.

Studying these themes and passages out today, I am reminded of the many Scriptures that show our Saviour going before and leading His people, throughout their lives.

Exodus 23:20-23 Behold, I send an Angel before thee, to keep thee in the way, and to bring thee into the place which I have prepared. Beware of him, and obey his voice, provoke him not; for he will not pardon your transgressions: for my name is in him. But if thou shalt indeed obey his voice, and do all that I speak; then I will be an enemy unto thine enemies, and an adversary unto thine adversaries. For mine Angel shall go before thee, and bring thee in unto the Amorites, and the Hittites, and the Perizzites, and the Canaanites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites: and I will cut them off.

Most of the times, the Angel of the LORD in the Old Testament was actually a pre-incarnate appearance of the Lord Jesus Christ, appearing to lead, comfort, and aid His people.

Genesis 48:15-16 And he blessed Joseph, and said, God, before whom my fathers Abraham and Isaac did walk, the God which fed me all my life long unto this day, The Angel which redeemed me from all evil, bless the lads; and let my name be named on them, and the name of my fathers Abraham and Isaac; and let them grow into a multitude in the midst of the earth.

In the New Testament, we still see Jesus paving the way, leading His people into paths of righteousness for His name’s sake, as the Author (which means the chief leader, captain, pioneer, trailblazer) and Finisher (completer, consummater) of our faith. He prepares the way for His people, leads in the way, and goes before us as our example to follow. (See Psalm 23:3; Song of Solomon 3:6; 8:5; Hebrews 12:2; 1 Peter 2:21.)

I love how the Lord went before the disciples into the Garden of Gethsemane, then later went out in front of them to head off their enemies and protect them, knowing the cost to Himself (crossing the same Brook Kidron as King David did nearly 1000 years before in 2 Samuel 15:23).

John 18:1-9 When Jesus had spoken these words, he went forth with his disciples over the brook Cedron, where was a garden, into the which he entered, and his disciples. And Judas also, which betrayed him, knew the place: for Jesus ofttimes resorted thither with his disciples. Judas then, having received a band of men and officers from the chief priests and Pharisees, cometh thither with lanterns and torches and weapons. Jesus therefore, knowing all things that should come upon him, went forth, and said unto them, Whom seek ye? They answered him, Jesus of Nazareth. Jesus saith unto them, I am he. And Judas also, which betrayed him, stood with them. As soon then as he had said unto them, I am he, they went backward, and fell to the ground. Then asked he them again, Whom seek ye? And they said, Jesus of Nazareth. Jesus answered, I have told you that I am he: if therefore ye seek me, let these go their way: That the saying might be fulfilled, which he spake, Of them which thou gavest me have I lost none.

Jesus went before us to provide the way of salvation, prepare the narrow way for His people, showing His righteousness (and crediting that same righteousness to the accounts of those who trust in Him alone by faith), and choose to follow His steps.

Psalms 89:14 Justice and judgment are the habitation of thy throne: mercy and truth shall go before thy face.

As the Saviour leads the way, mercy and truth go before the child of God. The Lord who is the Truth prepares the way of truth.

Psalms 85:10 Mercy and truth are met together; righteousness and peace have kissed each other.

At the end of our pilgrimage on this earth, may we have a testimony similar to that of the patriarch Jacob. God’s mercy and truth - yea, the Lord Himself - led us all the way!

Genesis 32:10 I am not worthy of the least of all the mercies, and of all the truth, which thou hast shewed unto thy servant; for with my staff I passed over this Jordan; and now I am become two bands.

D. Rereward:

Isaiah 58:8 Then shall thy light break forth as the morning, and thine health shall spring forth speedily: and thy righteousness shall go before thee; the glory of the LORD shall be thy rereward.

A rereward is a rear guard - ie. someone who goes behind someone else and protects them.

God’s mercies and goodness prevent us (ie. go before us); His favour compasses us as a shield; His righteousness and truth go before us; and His glory goes behind us, like a rear guard protecting us from enemies pursuing us.

A beautiful example of a literal fulfilment of this exact promise is found in the passage describing Israel’s exodus out of Egypt and their crossing of the Red Sea.

Exodus 14:19-22 And the angel of God, which went before the camp of Israel, removed and went behind them; and the pillar of the cloud went from before their face, and stood behind them: And it came between the camp of the Egyptians and the camp of Israel; and it was a cloud and darkness to them, but it gave light by night to these: so that the one came not near the other all the night. And Moses stretched out his hand over the sea; and the LORD caused the sea to go back by a strong east wind all that night, and made the sea dry land, and the waters were divided. And the children of Israel went into the midst of the sea upon the dry ground: and the waters were a wall unto them on their right hand, and on their left.

The pillar of cloud and fire, God’s literal presence and glory, went behind God’s people and stood between them and the pursuing Egyptian army. Look what happened next:

Exodus 14:23-24 And the Egyptians pursued, and went in after them to the midst of the sea, even all Pharaoh's horses, his chariots, and his horsemen. And it came to pass, that in the morning watch the LORD looked unto the host of the Egyptians through the pillar of fire and of the cloud, and troubled the host of the Egyptians,

The word looked in verse 24 literally carries the idea of peering over a balcony or through a window and observing something. The Lord looked through His glory cloud and saw the Egyptians racing after His people, intending to harm them, and God could not just observe this and not do anything to help His people. He stepped in and worked on behalf of His chosen nation.

Exodus 14:25-30 And took off their chariot wheels, that they drave them heavily: so that the Egyptians said, Let us flee from the face of Israel; for the LORD fighteth for them against the Egyptians. And the LORD said unto Moses, Stretch out thine hand over the sea, that the waters may come again upon the Egyptians, upon their chariots, and upon their horsemen. And Moses stretched forth his hand over the sea, and the sea returned to his strength when the morning appeared; and the Egyptians fled against it; and the LORD overthrew the Egyptians in the midst of the sea. And the waters returned, and covered the chariots, and the horsemen, and all the host of Pharaoh that came into the sea after them; there remained not so much as one of them. But the children of Israel walked upon dry land in the midst of the sea; and the waters were a wall unto them on their right hand, and on their left. Thus the LORD saved Israel that day out of the hand of the Egyptians; and Israel saw the Egyptians dead upon the sea shore.

“Don’t mess with My children!” is the message that shouts loud and clear in this passage. Just like God used His mighty hand to deliver His people physically from their bondage to the Egyptians and to their old master, Pharaoh; even so He used His whole arm to spiritually deliver us (at Calvary) from our slavery to sin and to our spiritual master, Satan. (See Exodus 15:11-13; Deuteronomy 26:8; Isaiah 53:1; 52:10.)

Not only is God’s favour a shield for His people and His glory our rereward - our protection, our rear guard - His Word is our shield and buckler; yea, even He Himself is our shield.

Psalms 18:30 As for God, his way is perfect: the word of the LORD is tried: he is a buckler to all those that trust in him.

Proverbs 30:5 Every word of God is pure: he is a shield unto them that put their trust in him.

Psalms 91:1-2, 4 He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the LORD, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust… He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth shall be thy shield and buckler.

What are we so afraid of in this world when our Heavenly Father is watching out for us?

Hebrews 13:5-6 Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me.

E. Follow:

Psalms 23:6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.

Not only does God’s mercy snd goodness go before us, His blessings surround us continually, that same goodness and mercy are following us all the days of our lives, until the Lord takes us home to glory.

Not much I can add to this thought, but think about it: from the moment you come in faith to the Lord Jesus Christ until the day He takes you home to be with Him in Heaven, you are never without His blessings, never without His goodness and mercy. That’s reason for praise right there, is it not?

F. Crowned:

Psalms 8:5 For thou hast made him a little lower than the angels, and hast crowned him with glory and honour.

Webster’s 1828 Dictionary defines crown as:  “To cover, as with a crown; to cover the top.”

Our lives are truly blessed, and have literally been crowned or covered completely with God’s glory and honour.

The Lord saved us, redeemed us, sanctified us - and yet one day He will even glorify us in His presence. Our sin nature will be removed, this vile body will be transformed, this mortal will become immortal, no longer subject to death or sickness nor even sinfulness. I can’t wait until that coming day!

One of Webster’s 1828 Dictionary’s definitions of honor is: “To dignify; to raise to distinction or notice; to elevate in rank or station; to exalt.”

Sin degrades and demeans us, but salvation glories and honours us. God elevates His children. As a lost person, I was a child of wrath, a worm, vile and wicked. As a born again child of God, I am accepted in the Beloved and adopted as a child of the King of Kings, with untold promises in this life, an inheritance and a mansion in the life to come. What honour!

Psalms 8:3-5 When I consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers, the moon and the stars, which thou hast ordained; What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him? For thou hast made him a little lower than the angels, and hast crowned him with glory and honour.

2 Timothy 2:19-21 Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity. But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth; and some to honour, and some to dishonour. If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master's use, and prepared unto every good work.

Romans 8:28-30 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.

1 Corinthians 15:51-56 Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? -- The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law.

We are not glorified yet - but God keeps His Word. Right now, I am saved from wrath, justified, sanctified (set apart for God), and one day I will be glorified. It’s as good as done - in God’s timing. I am saved from the penalty of sin, from the power of sin, and will one day be delivered from the very presence of sin. (See Hebrews 9:26, 24, 28.) Glorified!

Psalms 103:4 Who redeemeth thy life from destruction; who crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies;

To top off all of these blessings, our lives are literally crowned with God’s lovingkindness and tender mercies. 

Webster has defined kindness as: “Good will; benevolence; that temper or disposition which delights in contributing to the happiness of others, which is exercised cheerfully in gratifying their wishes, supplying their wants or alleviating their distresses; benignity of nature. Kindness ever accompanies love.”

Vine’s Expository Dictionary defines lovingkindness as: “loving-kindness; steadfast love; grace; mercy; faithfulness; goodness; devotion… In general, one may identify three basic meanings of the word, which always interact: ‘strength,’ ‘steadfastness,’ and ‘love.’”

Psalms 26:3 For thy lovingkindness is before mine eyes: and I have walked in thy truth.

Psalms 40:11 Withhold not thou thy tender mercies from me, O LORD: let thy lovingkindness and thy truth continually preserve me.

Psalms 42:8 Yet the LORD will command his lovingkindness in the daytime, and in the night his song shall be with me, and my prayer unto the God of my life.

Psalms 63:3 Because thy lovingkindness is better than life, my lips shall praise thee.

Psalms 92:1-2 A PSALM OR SONG FOR THE SABBATH DAY. It is a good thing to give thanks unto the LORD, and to sing praises unto thy name, O most High: To shew forth thy lovingkindness in the morning, and thy faithfulness every night,

Psalms 117:2 For his merciful kindness is great toward us: and the truth of the LORD endureth for ever. Praise ye the LORD.

Psalms 138:2 I will worship toward thy holy temple, and praise thy name for thy lovingkindness and for thy truth: for thou hast magnified thy word above all thy name.

Psalms 143:8 Cause me to hear thy lovingkindness in the morning; for in thee do I trust: cause me to know the way wherein I should walk; for I lift up my soul unto thee.

Jeremiah 9:23-24 Thus saith the LORD, Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, neither let the mighty man glory in his might, let not the rich man glory in his riches: But let him that glorieth glory in this, that he understandeth and knoweth me, that I am the LORD which exercise lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness, in the earth: for in these things I delight, saith the LORD.

Jeremiah 31:3 The LORD hath appeared of old unto me, saying, Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee.

When we look back over all the years we have walked with the Lord and experienced His faithfulness, when we have personally tasted and seen that the Lord is truly good towards us (see Psalm 34:8), I think we will be able to say with the hymn writer, "It’s just like His great love!”

G. Underneath:

Deuteronomy 33:27 The eternal God is thy refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms: and he shall thrust out the enemy from before thee; and shall say, Destroy them.

Not only are God’s blessings found everywhere in our lives - if we will take the time to sincerely look for them - we see the Lord upholding us with His everlasting arms. Like the classic Footprints In The Sand poem, we are never alone, and He is always carrying His children, holding us up, never letting us fall. From the moment of salvation until He takes us home to glory, we are completely and utterly surrounded by His blessings.

Blessings such as:

Blessings of goodness/goodness
Tender mercies/mercy
Favour
Songs of deliverance
Righteousness
Truth
The glory of the Lord
Honour
Lovingkindness

Basically, there are nine types of blessings surrounding the life of the child of God (referring just to the related passages on this theme - there are COUNTLESS more). Nine represents fruitfulness. Is your life fruitful as you serve the Lord day by day?

Titus 2:11-14 For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.

Have you ever looked up Strong’s definition for the Greek word translated as grace? He defines it as: “graciousness (as gratifying), of manner or act (abstract or concrete; literal, figurative or spiritual; especially the divine influence upon the heart, and its reflection in the life; including gratitude).”

Are you grateful? Are you thankful? Is the grace of God at work in your life? Can others see the blessings of His goodness in your life? Can you?

His goodness prevents (precedes) you, compasses you, goes before you, rerewards you (ie. is your rear guard), follows you, crowns you, and holds you up securely in His arms. Seven ways He has completly surrounded us by His blessings.

Isn’t God good to us?

Psalms 21:3 For thou preventest him with the blessings of goodness: thou settest a crown of pure gold on his head.

September 22nd, 2026
Jerry Bouey