Blessed?

Are you blessed? How do you know? Are you walking in the blessing of being blessed? How do you define 'blessed'? If you aren't living a blessed life... why? If you are... how? I could continue with the questions but what I'm trying to do is to have you consider the word and what it means and how it relates to you, The best place to start is in scripture. The Beatitudes are found in the first 12 verses of the Sermon on the Mount, Matthew 5: 2-12 (AMP).

I considered these verses in light of Who was being blessed and What their 'reward' was. I never fully focused on the word - blessed. The who and what were fairly simple to relate but... blessed? What is 'blessed'? The Amplified Bible does a marvelous job of expanding our understanding of blessed and what is included and experienced. 

   "Blessed [spiritually prosperous, happy, to be admired] are the poor in 

    spirit [those devoid of spiritual arrogance, those who regard themselves 

    as insignificant], for theirs is the kingdom of heaven [both now and forever].

   
    Blessed [forgiven, refreshed by God’s grace] are those who mourn [over 

    their sins and repent], for they will be comforted [when the burden of sin 

    is lifted].

    Blessed [inwardly peaceful, spiritually secure, worthy of respect] are the

    gentle [the kind-hearted, the sweet-spirited, the self-controlled], for they 

    will inherit the earth.

    Blessed [inwardly peaceful, spiritually secure,] are those who hunger and 

    thirst for righteousness [those who actively seek right standing with God], 

    for they will be [completely] satisfied.

    Blessed [content, sheltered by God’s promises] are the merciful, for they 

    will receive mercy.

    Blessed [anticipating God’s presence, spiritually mature] are the pure in 

    heart [those with integrity, moral courage, and godly character], for they 

    will see God.

    Blessed [spiritually calm with life-joy in God’s favor] are the makers and 

    maintainers of peace, for they will [express His character and] be called 

    the sons of God.

    Blessed [comforted by inner peace and God’s love] are those who are

    persecuted for doing that which is morally right, for theirs is the king-

    dom of heaven [both now and forever].

    Blessed [morally courageous and spiritually alive with life-joy in God’s

    goodness] are you when people insult you and persecute you, and falsely 

    say all kinds of evil things against you because of [your association with] 

    Me.     

   

    Be glad and exceedingly joyful, for your reward in heaven is great [abso-

    lutely inexhaustible]; for in this same way they persecuted the prophets 

    who were before you."

Poor in spirit... those who mourn... gentle... those who hunger and thirst for righteousness... merciful... pure in heart... persecuted... associated with the Lord. The blessings are available to all who experience any of the above conditions. 

Jesus tells us and defines for us what being blessed encompasses: spiritually prosperous, forgiven, refreshed by God’s grace, inwardly peaceful, spiritually secure, inwardly peaceful, spiritually secure, content, sheltered by God’s promises, anticipating God’s presence, spiritually mature, spiritually calm with life-joy in God’s favor, comforted by inner peace and God’s love, morally courageous and spiritually alive with life-joy in God’s goodness. These are the descriptive words for one who is blessed. Does this define you? If not, where are you not blessed? Do you know why?

Blessed is more than a word... somehow, in my world of definitions, it also something that we receive. I think the blessings are available but we have to accept them. We have to let the blessings define us not just the 'condition'. The blessings are our defense, our strength. Blessed also refers to how the Lord thinks about us - He loves us so much that He looks for ways to help us as we live our lives.