I asked God for strength that I might achieve. I was made weak that I might learn humbly to obey. I asked for health that I might do greater things. I was given infirmity that I might do better things. I asked for riches that I might be happy. I was given poverty that I might be wise. I asked for power that I might have the praise of men. I was given weakness that I might feel the need of God. I asked for all things that I might enjoy life. I was given life that I might enjoy all things. I got nothing that I asked for, but everything I hoped for. Almost despite myself, my unspoken prayers were answered. I am, among all men, most richly blessed. (Unknown)
back it up with bible
Isaiah 58:10,11 And if thou draw out thy soul to the hungry, and satisfy the afflicted soul; then shall thy light rise in obscurity, and thy darkness be as the noon day: And the LORD shall guide thee continually, and satisfy thy soul in drought, and make fat thy bones: and thou shalt be like a watered garden, and like a spring of water, whose waters fail not.
2 Corinthians 9:6b He which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully.
Psalms 29:11 The LORD will give strength unto his people; the LORD will bless his people with peace.
John 16:33 These things I have spoken unto you, that in Me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.
Jeremiah 17:7 Blessed is the man that trusteth in the Lord.
2 Corinthians 6:4,10 In all things approving ourselves as the ministers of God, ... As sorrowful, yet alway rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things.
core christianity
Blessed
Ephesians 1:3 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.
The word “blessed” is a wonderful word. Christians use the words “blessed” and “blessing” a lot, and most of the time we mean it. There are times when we use it as an expression to terminate a conversation that is going too long. We will say something to the effect of, “Well, that’s great. Wow. Hey, praise the Lord and God bless you.” This can be translated, “Please stop talking now.” That, of course, is not the proper way to use it.
“Blessed” is a Christian word. It is a spiritual word. It is a biblical word. And it has been hijacked by our culture. People may talk about “blessings” in their lives, but the nonbeliever has no idea what a real blessing is, because only the child of God truly knows what it is to be blessed. It is also worth noting that Jesus both began and concluded His earthly ministry blessing people.
So what does it mean to be blessed? The word “blessed” Jesus used in the Sermon on the Mount is from the Greek word makarios, which means to be happy or blissful, but it also means a self-contained happiness. The Greeks called the Island of Cypress “the happy isle.” They believed that because of its geographical location, perfect climate, and fertile soil that anyone who lived on Cypress had it made in the shade. And the term they associated with the island was makarios. They believed everything you needed to be happy was right there on Cypress.
We can’t all move to Cypress, but the idea is that our happiness is independent of our circumstances. It is self-contained, meaning that regardless of what is happening to us externally, we can be truly happy internally. We can be genuinely blessed as followers of Jesus Christ. (Worthy Devotions)
previously published
A Broader Scope
(Jesus:) One main struggle with receiving the rewards and blessings I have for you is in recognizing and accepting the ones I offer. When I say I will give you back one hundredfold, more than what you gave Me, I mean it and I do just that. In many cases, My blessings and rewards are spiritual. I may know that it’s better to give you contentment, and reward you with the wisdom and experience of being able to forsake someone (or something) for My sake. I may give you more maturity because of it, and increase your ability to not depend on one person for your happiness, but to look to Me for that…Those blessings are things that will be useful to you and that will make you a better person, a better follower. They will increase your personal happiness in the long run, because you will have learned to be content in whatever state you’re in.
My view is much broader than yours, and I don’t see only the physical, or only the emotional side of life…Until you’ve made sacrifices for My sake and seen the consequent rewards and returns, it can be difficult to trust that things will turn out for good, as I have promised. But every time you yield to Me in this way, eventually those blessings do come back to you, and it gets easier to trust that I will fulfill My promise next time, too.
By definition, My disciples have chosen to look beyond the things of this world to those which are eternal…I’m trying to show you the superior blessings and satisfaction of choosing that higher calling…So the secret is to look past the immediate pleasures or satisfactions of the flesh and to instead look toward the things that are spiritual--the things that last and that make a difference in your life in the long run. Look for those hidden blessings, for they are the most valuable and rare; they are the things that make you strong, that make you stand out, and that make you a spiritual man or woman. (Xn 078)
make it personal
Ask the Lord: Jesus, please speak to me about the rewards of those “unseen blessings”, and tell me how I can know I will be happy now and in the long run by letting you choose my blessings for me.
