Surely you have granted him unending blessings and made him glad with the joy of your presence. Psalm 21:6
A popular hashtag that floats around social media is #blessed. It carries with it a variant array of connotations. Beach-Bod Ready #blessed. New car #blessed. These grandchildren #blessed. It is more blessed to give than to receive #blessed. Everyone’s definition of #blessed is a little bit different. The Bible says:
“Blessed are the poor in spirit,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are those who mourn,
for they will be comforted.
Blessed are the meek,
for they will inherit the earth.
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,
for they will be filled.
Blessed are the merciful,
for they will be shown mercy.
Blessed are the pure in heart,
for they will see God.
Blessed are the peacemakers,
for they will be called children of God.
Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” Matthew 5:3-10
Blessings point to people’s real-life situations and scenarios. We can still be #blessed even when our lives are not picture perfect. In Kate Bowler and Jessica Richie’s book, The Lives We Actually Have, days are described and categorized as “ordinary,” “tired,” “lovely,” “grief-stricken,” “overwhelming,” “painful,” “garbage,” “others,” “beautiful and limited,” and “holy.” Our days are not all going to be from the same cookie-cutter. But the good news is that Jesus has already gone before us. He has experienced every trial we will ever go through, at its core.
There is a poem in The Lives We Actually Have that I would like us to explore. I will not share it entirely, just a highlight reel:
"God, be bread.
Be water.
Be laundry.
Be the coffee cup in my hands
And the reason to calm down in traffic.
Be the gentler tone in my insistence today
That people pick up after themselves for once."
Can I get an amen? In every facet of my life, I need God’s grace to cover me, totally, completely, fully, and freely.
I need God to fill me. I need him to be with me. I need his light to pierce me. I need his energy to infuse me. I need his freedom to inspire me. I need his peace to encapsulate me. I need his patience to pacify me. I need his unconditional love to fuse my heart with his own.
I need Jesus, in every way, shape, and form. I need Jesus in every ordinary measure. I need Jesus down to the last intricate detail of my life. I need Jesus, plain and simple.
There is a French expression, “je suis reconnaissant” which translates as “I am grateful,” and is suggested to have three parts: “I recognize; I acknowledge; I appreciate.” In order to be grateful, we must stop and look around. We must take note and acknowledge our blessings. Finally, we must appreciate them for all that they’re worth. God’s blessings are priceless: our children, good health, the ability to learn, passions and spiritual gifts, and the ability to see and hear the world around us. #priceless #blessed.
We’ve all been taught to “Stop, look, and listen” as kids, before crossing the street. What if we remembered to stop, look, and “soak it in” in our everyday lives? What if we counted our blessings, prayed for them, and attributed them to our loving God, daily? How ingrained in our hearts would our blessings be if we took the time to pray over each one, individually?
Perhaps the antidote to ingratitude is humility and acknowledging God’s grace. Maybe it is daily repetition in praising the Lord for the little things. What if we stopped, looked up to the Father, set aside precious moments to pray, and praised God for all the things we take for granted, every day? What a rehearsal of gratitude, a godly discipline, and an endeavor of joy.
Steps of Faith:
Close your laptop lid. Close your eyes. Take a few moments to praise and thank God for some things you are thankful for.
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