What are blessings? How do we recognize blessings in our lives? Blessings from God are all over our lives. We just need to see God’s Hand in everything to be able to understand how blessed we are.
It carries the idea that when we “bless” the Lord we mentally and spiritually bow down on our knees and worship Him, acknowledging that He is the source of all blessings.
The Lord is very kind to us. He gives us things in abundance when we pray and ask Him in faith to help us in our needs. Our needs may be spiritual, material, physical, or mental. He is quick to supply our every need in Christ Jesus, because He loves us. However, not everything we ask for in prayer will be granted to us because God only wants the very best for us and will give us blessings that we never dreamed of asking Him, and His blessings will be free and plentiful.
When you wake up in the morning, do you ever thank God for keeping you safe during the night and for giving you another beautiful day? Or have you ever been in touch with your breathing and realize that you have the gift of life and that you are on this earth for a reason? All of these are blessings from God which we take for granted.
The sun and moon and stars are all beautiful creations from God. The sea, the mountain, fresh drinking water, food on our table, money in the bank, our good health, our physical abilities, our many friends, our gifts and talents and so much more, are blessings from God which we need to be grateful for.
What about bad things that happen to us? Do you consider that as blessings? In some strange way, they are blessings. We never think of bad things as blessings because it brings us pain. They are blessings in disguise. Perhaps something bad happens to you for a reason, so that you can grow and become a strong person in faith. God is blessing you with patience and strong faith and trust in Him. Maybe you are unemployed. In this season of your life, God is teaching you to rely on Him to support you in all your needs. Maybe you failed your matric exams. In this situation God is blessing you with an attitude of perseverance sothat you can be able to work much harder next time and pass the grade with distinction. We must not always think that we can not achieve our goals because life gets too difficult. If we have a poor attitude, then we will believe the negatives of our lives and this will not get us very far in life.
When we visit sick people in hospital, we need to get in touch with God and thank Him for the gift of good health He has blessed us with. When we have a roof over our heads, we need to thank God for blessing us with shelter. There are many poor people who don’t have proper housing conditions or do not have enough clothes or food on the table. We need to get in touch with our ability to reach out to them, for even reaching out with kindness and love is a blessing.
You are a blessing to others when you live out your purpose in life. Are you an Educator? Give your time and energy to your students. You are moulding them into valuable human beings who will in turn make a great contribution to society.
Are you a policeman/woman? You are blessed in your profession in giving safety and security to many from crime on a daily basis.
Are you a doctor or a nurse? Many people rely on your expertise for healing their sick bodies. This is a blessing.
There are many other professions that are considered blessings to the human race. Do not take your profession for granted. God can use you mightily in your field of training. These are all blessings from God that we need to embrace and thank God for. Even giving of your time to listen to others’ problems is a blessing. When people need to chat, and you are open to listen to them, you are helping them to heal psychologically, mentally and spiritually. People will feel much better and at the end of the day, you would be considered as a great blessing to them in their time of need.
Giving good advice and encouraging others to do the right thing is a blessing. Young people are very much blessed by their mentors and teachers and youth workers who strive to see them shine and flourish in whichever way they can. Forming young people is a great ministry and those called to this ministry need to see value in it.
Our parents and siblings are blessings to us, and we are blessings to them. Husbands and wives are blessings to each other and their children are blessings to them too. Children need to respect their parents because they are co-creators with God and it is through their parents and God’s love, that they have been given the gift of life.
Paul tells us in Ephesians 5:20 that we should be…
“always giving thanks to God the Father for everything”. The ancient Jews entwined this practice in their daily lives. Before embarking on anything, they said a brief prayer of thanks to God. We need to practice giving thanks to God in everything. When we include God in our everyday living, and we make Him part of our decisions in life, then our lives will go smoothly.
When the Lord lifts His countenance upon us, it shows that He is looking on us for our good. God wants to bless us. He wants to protect us. He wants to make His face to shine upon us and be gracious to us, and give us peace. Here in the Blessing, the most obvious meaning for this phrase is that God accepts us.
Let us continue to humble ourselves in the face of the Lord, and He will work marvels for us.
I conclude with this well known song, COUNT YOUR BLESSINGS. May God speak to you clearly as you reflect on the words.
1 When upon life’s billows you are tempest tossed,
When you are discouraged, thinking all is lost,
Count your many blessings, name them one by one,
And it will surprise you what the Lord hath done.
Refrain:
Count your blessings, name them one by one;
Count your blessings, see what God hath done;
Count your blessings, name them one by one;
Count your many blessings, see what God hath done.
2 Are you ever burdened with a load of care?
and the cross seem heavy you are called to bear?
Count your many blessings, ev’ry doubt will fly,
And you will be singing as the days go by. [Refrain]
3 When you look at others with their lands and gold,
Think that Christ has promised you His wealth untold;
Count your many blessings, money cannot buy
Your reward in heaven, nor your home on high. [Refrain]
4 So, amid the conflict, whether great or small,
Do not be discouraged, God is over all;
Count your many blessings, angels will attend,
Help and comfort give you to your journey’s end. [Refrain]
Baptist Hymnal, 1991
Blessings from God to you in abundance.
(Sr Columbia Fernandez O.P
9 November 2022)
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