
One Year Bible Reading Plan and Devotional
Today’s Bible Reading: January 12
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Clicking on the Scripture links above will open a new window where you can read the scripture from the Holman Christian Standard Bible at Biblegateway.com or choose the Bible version you prefer to read. Check back each day to get the Scripture to read in the One Year Bible Reading Plan.
Blessings in Disguise

Do you need a blessing not in disguise?
The problem with blessings in disguise is we often don’t see the blessing…only the problem. Two ministry workers were discussing their problems over lunch one day. One of them said to the other one: “What I need is a blessing that isn’t in disguise.”
The lyrics to the chorus in Laura Story’s song entitled Blessings are:
‘Cause what if your blessings come through raindrops
What if Your healing comes through tears
What if a thousand sleepless nights are what it takes to know You’re near
And what if trials of this life are Your mercies in disguise*
God is at work and often are blessings come in disguises
So many of the ways that God is at work in our lives every day goes unseen, unnoticed, taken for granted. But sometimes the difficult things in life – the dream that ended, the medical diagnosis, the loss of a loved one, the house deal fell through, the car broke down, the promotion or new job not received, and when you miss your exit because another driver didn’t let you over – are actually God at work. Sometimes what we think is detrimental, is God protecting us or drawing us closer to Him, or teaching us to be dependent on Him, or He is protecting us from something that we couldn’t yet see. It is hard to thing of these things as blessings, but because God can work all things together for our God, they can be blessings in disguise as God protects us and brings about His perfect plan for our lives.
Jacob’s Blessing in Disguise
After feeling his brother’s anger Jacob flees home under the guise of going to find a bride in Hebron. But in the fleeing, Jacob experiences a blessing as he encounters God in a dream where he sees angels ascending and descending on a ladder that extends from Heaven to earth. At the top of the ladder is the Lord and He transfers the blessing given to Abraham to Jacob. As part of the promise the Lord gives to Jacob, He tells Jacob He will be with him wherever he goes and that He will direct him back to this place. I’m sure Jacob didn’t want to flee his home, but there are several blessings Jacob receives that had he not left, he might not have experienced.
Naturally, encounter God was a blessing. But had another blessing in disguise waiting for Jacob. God had a specific girl chosen to be Jacob’s wife and to get her, Jacob would need to go to Hebron. But wait…that’s not all. Jacob will receive a second blessing in disguise that will prepare him for what God has planned for him.
God doesn’t need our help to accomplish His plan
God had already declared to Isaac that it would be Jacob’s lineage that would fulfill the promises God made to Abraham. The deception to steal Esau’s birthright and blessing were not needed for God to work out His plan for Jacob’s life and it caused a rift between the two brothers which had one fleeing the other. Alone on the cold, hard ground with a stone for a pillow, Jacob laid down to sleep. Can you imagine what went through his mind in that moment? I’m sure he must have wondered if he would ever see his home again and would Esau ever forgive him enough that he would not want to kill him. Whenever we try to help God carry out His plans, we usually just make a big mess of things.
Jacob’s second blessing in disguise
When Jacob arrives in Heron, God has one future father-in-law ready to teach Jacob some much needed lessons so that Jacob can mature and be prepared for what God will do in and through his life. Jacob, the deceiver at home would be deceived by his father-in-law multiple times. And then when Jacob had learned what God had to teach him there, God would direct Jacob’s steps back to the land of promise that Jacob knew as home.
Trust God to direct your path and look for the blessings in disguise along the way
Just as the Lord directed the paths of Jacob and brought him back to the land of promise, so He does in our lives every day. So whether its a God-sized dream, and uncertain future, and unexpected job loss, prodigal children, overwhelming responsibilities, underappreciated marriage relationship or job, aging parents, death of a loved one, a negative medical diagnosis, financial troubles or anything else you face in life, you can know that God is with you through every moment of life and He will direct your paths, even if the blessings are in disguise. Take some time to thank Him and praise Him for always being with you and look for the unexpected blessings and the blessings in disguise.
*Songwriters: Laura Story
Blessings lyrics © Capitol Christian Music Group
#ReadYourBible #Genesis #Matthew
Now you can enhance your Bible Reading with the Verse Mapping Template
Our Verse Mapping download is FREE and includes 6 pages: 3 pages of instructions for using the template and the 2 page template, plus the cover page. If you’re looking to go deeper into God’s Word, learn more about God and develop a stronger spiritual life, Verse Mapping will help you dig into the scriptures. As you apply God’s Word to your life, you will develop a more intimate knowledge and relationship with God.


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