Blessings

Can you stand being blessed? Often times, we either glaze over or forget the fact that Jesus defined blessings in a way that are contrary to personal comfort. It is not that Jesus had no interest in our comfort, but Jesus’ priority was to delight in God’s purpose. This manifested in His obedience. During the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus taught the multitude and his disciples, “³ Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. ⁴ Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted. ⁵ Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth. ⁶ Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled. ⁷ Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy. ⁸ Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God. ⁹ Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God. ¹⁰ Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness’ sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. ¹¹ Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. ¹² Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you” Matthew 5:3-12 KJV

I want to encourage you today that on our Christian journey when we are humble and contrite and even at times brokenhearted, we are blessed. Those times when we long for God and wonder is He listening and ask, “Where are you God; are you listening?” You are blessed for the asking, God will fill you. Your pureness comes from being washed in the blood of Jesus; if you are saved… you are surely blessed. What about those times when you know that you are right and choose to apologize when someone else has wronged you and you choose to hold your tongue. Instead of being right, choose to be blessed.

Finally, when you are persecuted in the forms of being disliked, talked about, disagreed with, spoken to harshly, qualified but overlooked, passed over, or even lied on because of your consistent life of obedience to God’s Word, you are blessed. You are not to only understand you are blessed, but you are to rejoice by continuing in your devotion and commitment to God and all that relates to God.

Jesus listed a few of the blessings that come with what seemingly and sometimes feel like discomfort: Kingdom of heaven, godly comfort, an inheritance, being spirit filled, mercy, presence of God, and not to mention to fellowship in the suffering of Christ. God’s grace is amazing! Jesus did not teach that a life in Christ would be easy, but He did teach that it will be blessed. Can you stand to be blessed?

Pray with me: Heavenly Father, Lord, thank you for not planning my life with only my personal comfort in mind. Thank you that you are sovereign and do not bend or are swayed based on my comfort or discomfort. Thank you for seeing into the future and mapping out my life out accordingly. Not only for your glory and my good are the rudder for my life but also the good of others. Help me to operate and walk out Holiness with not just myself in mind, but your glory and love for others, especially that they may know you. Help me to live by faith and trust that you have blessed my life by not what I get but by what I give. Help me to give myself totally over to you and let it begin again today. Help me not to desire to just be blessed but to be a blessing. Thank you for your amazing grace, mercy and love. In Jesus’ mighty majestic name, this is my prayer amen.

The journey flows…