Blessing

Blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in Him (Jeremiah 17:7)

How great is the goodness you have stored up for those who fear you.  You lavish it on those who come to you for protection, blessing them before the watching world (Psalm 31:19)

So here’s something different…all the definitions I found were “head-y” or clinical or high and mighty in nature; “stuffy”/sterile definitions like “pronounce words in a religious rite” or “invoke favor upon from a higher power” or “ask God to look favorably upon” or “call God holy.”

These definitions seem like a blessing can be requested or solicited.  Some blessings do require action on our part, but are still not given because we ask for them.  These definitions (except for calling God holy) don’t convey what I think of when I think of “blessing.”

To me, “blessing” is a very tender, compassionate, personal thing; a personal choice (made by the giver, not the receiver) to give; a bending down to bestow something upon someone else.  When I think of giving/receiving a blessing, I think of tenderly placing a tiny baby chick or a new baby in somebody’s hands.  You don’t just plunk it down like a laundry basket full of laundry…you gingerly, intentionally place it there.  When a loved one opens up their hands, they can receive the blessing being given to them.

It can be a noun…a gift (words, actions, stuff, or emotional touch) given compassionately, lovingly.  This can be given to us by God, given to us by a person, or given to a person by us.  It can be tangible or intangible.

It can be a verb…a giving of a gift or words…by God to us, by us to God (the “calling God holy” part; worship, praise, etc), by others to us, or by us to others.

So, as we discuss, today, what God’s Word says about blessing, keep this tender “personal-ness” in mind.

God’s Word says that He “blesses” us by giving us the desires of our hearts and making all of our plans succeed (Psalm 20:4).  He supplies all of our needs (Phil. 4:19).  He blesses us by giving us grace (Phil. 4:23), peace (Ps. 29:11), and mercies that are new every morning (Lam. 3:22-23).

If He is our shepherd, we shall not be in want (Palm 23:1).  If we bless Him by worshiping Him, He will bless our food and water (Exodus 23:25). He blesses those who take refuge in Him (Psalm 34:8).Here are more blessings that He bestows upon us (from Matthew 5) when we do our part…He blesses those who realize their need for Him and those who are persecuted by giving them the kingdom of heaven.  He blesses those who mourn by comforting them.  He blesses those who choose humility by giving them the whole earth.  He blesses those who hunger and thirst for justice by satisfying them.  He blesses those who are merciful by showing them mercy.  He blesses the pure by showing Himself to them.  He blesses the peacemakers by calling them children of God.

You see, we serve a risen Savior who wants to bless us!  He yearns for closeness and intimacy with us.  He desires to give us good gifts.  He also wants us to yearn for Him, to draw close to Him, and to depend on Him.

Lord, Jesus, we thank you for your blessings.  Help us, Jesus, to recognize them, daily.  Help us to be mindful of the many, many ways you bless us!  You bless us from your own hand, and through the hands of your people.  Lord, help us to be mindful, also, of opportunities to be the blessing to others!  Open our hearts to this word “blessing” in new ways every day.  Thank you for the gift of your blessings!  In Jesus’ name, Amen!

This is an old, simple song with a great message!  And the pictures are adorable!