Definition of Blessing
**Here are some interactive lessons on some of the basic principles of living the Christian life. http://retirementwithapurpose.com/lessons/lessonsindex.html
by Suzanne Benner
How do you define blessing?
Do material possessions, such as a comfortable home, the latest gadgets and stylish clothes, determine whether or not you are blessed?
Or does blessing refer to less tangible items like fulfillment in work, a healthy body or a sense of purpose in life?
Is blessing simply a stroke of luck or good fortune? Does it apply only to people living in the western hemisphere of the world?
Surely, blessing from God would include children, a satisfying marriage, and close friendships.
Yet, if we are honest, we will acknowledge that we don’t have answers for those who lack these “blessings” that we presume are ours.
You know someone – maybe it’s you – who has longed for children, but remains barren; who has ached to be married but remains single; who has suffered pain from a chronic illness that doctors can’t alleviate; who although they are faithful to God have endured financial devastation, the agony of divorce, or the death of a child.
Maybe we lack a response because our assumptions are incorrect.
I was stunned by how Peter defined blessing from God in one of his sermons. “When God raised up his servant, he sent him first to you to bless you by turning each of you from your wicked ways” (Acts 3:26).
Peter describes blessing as being turned from evil.
God blessed us by sending Jesus to reveal the truth of our wicked and deceitful behavior, to change the direction of our lives.
We are incredibly blessed by God when He opens our eyes to the sin in our lives, so that we can turn to Him. That is the blessing that every believer experiences.
Consider your idea of blessing and thank God for turning you from sin.
~Holy God, too often I think I deserve stuff from You. Forgive my self-centeredness. Thank You for the indescribable gift of being turned from wickedness.
Questions to ponder: Are your ideas of blessing different from those mentioned in the Bible? (Read Matthew 5:3 – 10 for those Jesus considered blessed) If so, why do you think that is? How can you align your impressions with how God sees things?
About the Author
This devotional was written by Suzanne Benner. Read more about Suzanne: http://www.talk.thelife.com/authors/suzanne-benner/
14 Responses to “Definition of Blessing”
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Bless you Linda, and what a testimony God has given you. Thank you for sharing!
Every day is a blessing from God. I really experienced this 5 years ago when I found out my kidneys were failing. In April 2003 I went on dialysis (ugh!), this was to keep me alive. The Lord blessed me with a non-living donor in January 2004. I thank Him every day for this wonderful gift I received. Without it I probably wouldn’t be here to continue to sing of His praises. This was my major blessing, I continue to receive blessings every day. Lastly, I feel blessed that we can worship Him in a free country. Life itself is a blessing – PRAISE GOD!!
This seems to fit with another definition of blessing that appeared in your online devotional. Blessing was defined as “finding the right path.” I use to think of blessing to mean “that everything would go well for you”, but now when I bless my kids everynight and say: “May the Lord bless you and keep you”, I’m praying that God will direct their paths, that they would find the right one, which to me, is following Jesus.
What about the breaths we take each day? Wouldnt that be the greatest blessing? What did God do when he created man? Gave us breath. What is the first thing we do when we enter the world? Take a breath. What is the last thing we do before we leave this world? Take our last breath. And finally what do we need to live? Breath. What I think is no neat is that God loves us so much that even for those who turn away from him are blessed every day with breath.
I feel so blessed everyday ,God always by my side.
Thank You Jesus to have You in my life.
I am so very blessed by God and all that he has done for me. Just when the gets me out of bed in the morning and takes me through another day I just feel so blessed. I know that God is my provider and my protector and anything I need I know that I can turn to Him.
Thank You Jesus for being a blessing to me!
I don’t have a lot of material things…but all I have is from him and because of Him, and I am so grateful. Praise Him!!
I have to admit that I feel that all that I have materially is from God, I have never had the “comforts’ I have at this point in my life.My life has always been very hard. I was always trying to make the decision Buy food or pay bills? because there was never enough for both.The last 4 years I got serious about God and my relationship with him. That’s when everything changed, I changed! I could not stand my life the way it was, I surrendered everything to God “absolutly everything” my life, the way I was raising my kids the way I ran my home my marriage Everything. It’s not that I gained financially much more, but I appreciate All things in my life now, the way I feel about things is totally different . I don’t need all the things I thought I did. my “stuff” doesn’t matter much anymore.My life , my family my husband does matter. God comes first everyday and I praise him for everything he has blessed me with. I praise him ecspecially for being my best friend!! he has opened my eyes to what life in him is all about. Thank my loving Saviour for pulling me out of my own distruction and blessing me with your love and wisdom.
Joining with Sandra in thanking the Lord for the blessing of Barbara! Praise you, Father, for her honesty and loving desire to do your will!Thank you for the Healing that you are manifesting in her more and more each day.. It is heartening to read her precious comments and “see” the love and understanding of you and the new purpose in her special life! She is another forgiven daughter being set “gloriously free”!
Thank you, too, for what you’ve done for us here. It used to be so easy to “judge” others going through the very thing we are today. But, by exposing my critical spirit of the past to me, you’ve softened me and blessed me by allowing me to experience some things I needed to go through to understand others. It’s impossible today to “point a finger” at anyone! Am so grateful, too, for the daily blessings of provision that we took for granted before. Each day here, we Praise for utilities, food, the loan of our daughter’s car which is in better mechanical condition and has windows that go up and down and a/c when needed! May none of you ever know what it is like to go through hot summers with windows sealed shut and fan not working..But through that!! The Lord has caused an appreciation in us that could never be worked in us any other way!
And, dear Sandra, you have much company in former self-centerdness..Most of us humans are that way until the Lord corrects us :) ..All of us can qualify for that label at one point, or another..And, the very fact that you recognized it speaks volumes of your character..Today, here… am “blessed” because of the things HE has loving allowed..and only for our good..We pray for others, pray for ourselves..appreciate as never before..and He has developed patience in us towards each other ..and others in our lives..Thank you, Beloved teaching and patient Father! for the “brokeness” Barbara eloquently spoke of and with which you make us ALL better! Hallelujah for your Blessings..No material thing on this earth could compare!
AMEN Barbara, you are a blessing!
Wow, I love it when these devotionals hit right at the center of the matter/heart. I have found the best blessings that I am given from Our Heavenly Father are those that have been changing me from the inside out. Turning me away from sin and setting me on the proper path through life.
No “BIG” home, no high paying job, no fancy clothes can teach me the things that only the working of the Holy Spirit within can teach and direct. For once the blessings are done within us, it is only then that we can truly begin to enjoy the material things that are bestowed upon us.
I count it a blessing that my entire life had completly fallen to bits and pieces for i have learned a lot of valuable lessons even though it has been terribly heart wrenching. Yet, through desring to live a more obedient life my brokeness/life will be put back together agian. By the one whom created me on the first place.
I must though always remember to do the things that I know are pleasing to Thy Lord and to say NO to the things that my flesh is yelling at me to do. For when I say no to the flesh there is always a pure blessing of wholeness and goodness that fallows.
Barbara
This devotional, brought one thought to my mind, how selfish (selfcentered) I have been. Lord forgive me, and Thank You for revealing my sin.
It was a blessing to recognize this and for God to show it to me. Now I ask him to change me. God Bless you all.
Sandra
Thank you for the reinforcement of what the Holy Spirit has been pointing to in my heart.
James 5:19
My Brothers, if one of you should wander from the truth and someone should bring him back, remember this: Whoever turns a sinner from the error of his way will save him from death and cover over a multitude of sins.
God considers turning away from sin as “saving someone from death”. Yes, conviction about our own sin, and turning from it is a blessing.
Well suzanne, I am truly blessed everyday that the Lord brings me through another night. I look to Him for my blessings everyday. Yes I am provide for, but it come from Him. God Himself is a blessing to me. I love Him so much, that I can see His arms stretched out on the cross for ME.