Wednesday, February 18, 2009

To Be Blessed


I'm sure you have heard people say, "I am so blessed." But what does it mean to be blessed; what does it feel to be blessed? Is it a warm fuzzy feeling? Is it like eating homemade pie? Is it like sitting in front of a fireplace on a colder winter's day?
I came across some sentiments of blessing that might give some insight:
May the blessing of the rain be on you—
the soft sweet rain.
May it fall upon your spirit
so that all the little flowers may spring up...

May the good earth be soft under you
when you rest upon it,
and may it rest easy over you when,
at the last, you lay out under it...

Dear Lord,
Give me a few friends

who will love me for what I am,
and keep ever burning
before my vagrant steps
the kindly light of hope...
And though I come not within sight
of the castle of my dreams,
teach me to be thankful for life...

In these sentiments we see that blessings come in the form of rain, soft earth, good friends, and a thankfulness for life even if all the dreams are not reached. But is that all that there is to blessing? A little rain, and some good friends? Or is there more?
I venture to say that there is more. I believe in a God who wants to lavish blessing upon His children as a parent lavishes gifts on their child. In Proverbs 10:6 we are told: "Blessings crown the head of the righteous..." The Bible tells us that the righteous are those who put their faith in Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord. Those who are in Christ are blessed; blessed in many ways. Blessed in love, as they are filled with the love of God. Blessed in forgiveness, because in Christ all our sins are forgiven. Blessed in joy, because we can know that God will work all things out for the good to those who love the Lord. Blessed in peace, as God helps us to not worry. And on and on it goes. God gives us one blessing after another!
And what does this blessing feel like? It feels like HOPE. What I mean by this is that because we know that God blesses us, we have hope at all times and in all circumstances. No matter what is happening, we know there is hope to find blessing in the midst of it. No matter what mistakes we make, we know that there is hope for redemption, reconciliation, and correction. And it feels like SECURITY. WE can be secure in our knowledge that God is there to care for us, and protect us, and hold us. This is what it feels to be blessed when you know Jesus.
I hope you know Jesus. If you don't, you can by asking Him to forgive you of your sins, and tell Him you want to give Him your life. When you do this, you will be blessed every day of your life!