What does it mean to be blessed?
I celebrated my birthday last week and I had many birthday wishes for a blessed day and a blessed year. I was so blessed that even the waitress who served me my birthday dinner wore a neckless that said, “Blessed”! The next day I thanked everyone for those happy birthday wishes and responded that I am very blessed.
But, I got thinking, what does it really mean to be blessed?
Blessed is a word I use often and I think I know what it means, but I wonder whether I really know fully what God means when He uses the word blessed.
It took God only 22 verses to first use the word “blessed” in the Bible.
God blessed His creations in the seas and in the sky…
“Then God blessed them, saying, “Be fruitful and multiply. Let the fish fill the seas, and let the birds multiply on the earth.” Genesis 1:22
It seems God’s blessing upon the fish and birds was His way of showing His favor on them to enjoy the earth He placed them in; to live, thrive, and multiply so His wonder will be displayed. And isn’t that what happens as we look at God’s creation? How much awe and wonder is found in looking at the birds of the air and the fish of the sea!
Then after creating man in His image, God blessed them…
“And God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over every living thing that moves on the earth.” Genesis 1:28
So God showed His favor on man as He created them in His image and blessed them to enjoy the earth He created, to thrive and multiply and display the wonder of God! As with God’s creation, there is an awe and wonder towards those who live fully in the blessing of God, thriving and multiplying, as they represent God well here on earth.
The dictionary definition of the word blessed; made holy; consecrated.
Endowed with divine favor and protection.
The word blessed has its origin in God.
So when I read in the Bible that I have been created by God, made in the image of God, I realize I am blessed by God.
God’s blessing upon my life here on earth includes my knowing the One who created me and knowing my purpose here on earth is to thrive, to multiply, and to display the wonder of God!
Praise God, I am blessed!
But, I also realize because blessed has its origin in God, because it is divine in nature, it isn’t like anything of this world. I can humanize blessed and attach my thoughts and ways and assume what being blessed looks like.
I sometimes assume blessed means I have everything I need.
After all doesn’t God promise to provide all my needs?
I sometimes assume being blessed means everything will go smoothly, with no problems.
After all doesn’t God promise He will go with me and protect me wherever I go?
Sometimes I assume being blessed will enable to me do everything I need to do.
After all doesn’t God promise that in Christ I can do all things?
So, what about those times when I don’t have what I think I need?
What about when times get really tough and aren’t going the way I think they should go?
What happens when I find myself unable to do what I need to do?
Does that mean I’m no longer blessed by God?
Does that mean I’ve done something to hinder His blessings?
Do I need to do something to earn back His blessing?
When I read through the many, many times God uses the word blessing
in the Bible I realize His blessing isn’t something that changes. His blessing isn’t affected by what I do or don’t do.
God’s blessing isn’t affected by my circumstances!
God’s blessing is constant!
And because God’s blessing is constant He works in and through all my circumstances; my need, my turmoil, my inabilities, to show His goodness, His greatness, His glory!
God’s blessing isn’t about my circumstances, but its about God working in all my circumstances for His glory!
God’s blessing is the ability to trust God even when I don’t think I have enough.
God’s blessing is when I know He is walking with me even when I go through difficult situations.
God’s blessing is when I believe God will enable me to do what I never thought I could do.
God’s blessing is always available, but only realized when I trust the power of God, know the love of God, and believe the character of God!
When I was spending time with God on my birthday, contemplating the meaning of His blessing on my life, He whispered into my ear…
“Wilma, My precious daughter, blessing is found in looking at My face.”
When I consider God’s love for me demonstrated by what Jesus went through so that I can have a relationship with the One who created me and knows me perfectly, so that I can walk and talk with Him, so that I can see His face, I realize how truly blessed I really am and it changes my perspective of my circumstances.
Blessing is found in taking my eyes off my circumstances and by putting my eyes on my Heavenly Father!
“All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ.” Ephesians 1:3