Blessings Devotional

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Our women’s ministry team hosted a “blessings” fellowship tonight. Originally, we had asked one of the wonderful women from our church to share briefly how God had blessed her life. Two of God’s blessings in her life unexpectedly needed her more than we did tonight, so she was unable to share because she was out of town serving them. Instead, I shared the following thoughts with the women who came to our fellowship. We had a marvelous time—wish you could’ve been there to enjoy the laughter, fellowship, and the ice cream that followed, heaped with our favorite toppings to remind us that God truly does scoop on the blessings.

1. All blessings come from God.
Ephesians 1:3: “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ” (NASB).

2. Blessings come in assorted varieties and sizes. A one size fits for all occasions definition of a blessing just
    won’t work because God works in ways that just aren’t like ours! Look for the blessing in whatever
    situation you find yourself in today.
Matthew 5:2-12:
"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 sons of God.
 Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
 Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you” (NIV).

3. We’re accountable for the blessings God bestows upon us.
            Luke 12:48 (context in 35-48): “For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required: and to whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the more” (KJV). In context, this verse refers to the day Christ returns again. Verses 37 and 43 both state that the one who is alert and ready when Jesus comes back will be blessed. We are to be ready AND we are to share that with which we have been blessed with others so that they too can be ready when Christ returns.

4. What we do with our blessings matters.
Matthew 13:12 reads as follows: “Whoever has will be given more, and he will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken from him” (NIV).  Jesus tells his disciples that they’ve been given the privilege of knowing the mysteries of God (vs. 11). We, too, have been given this privilege and as we grow, we receive even more of what God has given us. In return, we should be eager to share this blessing with others. Jesus told his disciples (and us): “But blessed are your eyes, because they see; and your ears, because they hear. “For truly I say to you that many prophets and righteous men desired to see what you see, and did not see it, and to hear what you hear, and did not hear it” (vs. 16-17). Why wouldn’t we share something that is so precious to us?

5. God’s blessings are good!
            Psalm 34:8: “Taste and see that the LORD is good; blessed is the man who takes refuge in him” (NIV).

A Prayer of Blessing for You from Colossians 1:9-12:
“For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you and asking God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding. And we pray this in order that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and may please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, and joyfully giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance.... in the kingdom of light” (NIV).

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