God’s Direction or Your Own? How to Stop Blocking Your Blessings

This week, our Pastor Dr. GreGory shared a powerful message on the difference between "to" and "too." While they may sound alike, their meanings carry a deep spiritual significance.

• To represents purpose and direction—God’s guidance in our lives.

• Too means also or excess—God’s abundance and overflow for those who walk in obedience.

Hearers vs. Doers: The Call to Action

Pastor challenged us with James 1:22: “Be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.” Just as "to" and "too" may sound the same but have different meanings, so do hearers and doers. Many people hear the Word, but only those who act on it truly experience transformation. Listening alone is not enough—we must walk in obedience, applying God's direction to our daily lives.

The Importance of Discernment

Navigating this world requires discernment in all aspects of life:

• Relationships: Are the people around us leading us closer to God, or are they subtly putting us in reverse?

• Work and Daily Interactions: Are we showing the fruits of the Spirit on our jobs and in our responses to others?

• God’s Will for Our Lives: Are we truly acknowledging God in our plans, or are we inserting our own desires?

Pastor illustrated this by sharing how he added two to his message, thinking he was adding insight, but that wasn’t what God wanted him to focus on. The lesson? We must do exactly what God says and resist the urge to alter His instructions with our own interpretations.

Acknowledging God in All Our Ways

Proverbs 3:6 tells us, “In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.” Pastor encouraged us to take this seriously, even in our careers, hobbies, and entrepreneurial pursuits. Sometimes we have a plan, but God wants to take us in a different direction. If we trust Him, His way will always lead to greater fulfillment.

Dr. GreGory also shared a personal testimony about his grandmother’s warning before he traveled to London: “Don’t drink anything anyone gives you.”  Though it seemed like a small instruction, it ultimately protected him from harm. This is a reminder that we must pay attention to the Godly voices in our lives and heed their wisdom.

Discerning Our Thoughts and Struggles

We were also asked to evaluate the things we wrestle with:

• Are they fleshly desires that we need to bring under submission?

• Or are we dealing with demonic forces that require fasting and prayer?

Sometimes, we struggle because we are still trying to direct our own paths instead of yielding to God. But when we allow Him to lead, He takes away the toil and brings supernatural provision.

Healing from the Right Position

Many of us hold onto past hurts, living with regret instead of embracing God’s protection. Pastor reminded us that we must heal from the right perspective:

• “God saved me from something.”

• “God has more for me.”

• “God knows I deserve better than that.”

Instead of wishing things had turned out differently, we must trust that God's plan is always for our good. True healing comes when we stop punishing ourselves and start receiving His grace.

Living Free from Guilt

Guilt can keep us in a cycle of self-punishment, preventing us from fully experiencing the joy of salvation. Pastor encouraged us to chill out and live knowing that Jesus’ blood has already covered our sins. If we have repented, we are forgiven. Holding onto guilt is like blocking our own blessings—God wants us to walk in the freedom He has given us!

Learning to Receive & Walking in Excess

As a church, we have grown beyond just tithing and offering. Now, we are giving gold, silver, diamonds, rubies, and sapphires—not just physical treasures, but a demonstration of our love and honor for God.

Because of this, God is calling us to step into His excess. The message He wanted to get to us was simple: “Come over here too!”—into abundance, into overflow, into more than enough.

Conclusion: The Happiest Church on Earth

Pastor closed with a reminder that we are not just hearers—we are doers of the Word. Because of our obedience, God is leading us into greater things. Hope Assembly is stepping into a season of supernatural provision, and we are learning how to receive all that He has for us.

If we follow God’s direction, He will take us to purpose, and when we obey, He will lead us too His glorious excess!

After hearing this message, which area do you feel God is leading you to focus on the most?

• Trusting His direction (Purpose & Obedience)
• Growing in discernment (Spiritual Awareness)
• Healing the right way (Freedom in Christ)
• Receiving God's blessings (Walking in Abundance)