of the righteous ..."
(Proverbs 10:6)
Thanksgiving blessings, dear friends! As I thought about what to write in acknowledgment of our American holiday this week, every focus seemed too expected, too familiar, too trite. But, after taking it to the Lord in prayer, He spoke to my heart, "Count your blessings."
In the past, I have chafed at this greeting ("Blessings!") because I often perceive it to be commonly and cavalierly offered, seemingly without the reverence and respect due to such Divine favor. I have resisted using it myself because, regrettably, the word "blessing" has been much misused by some who have twisted it to suit their own interpretation of earthly prosperity. While the Lord can certainly bless one with physical and material wealth, position, and power (and there are Biblical examples of such blessing), the most important--and I believe the purest-- form exists in the spiritual blessings granted through faith in Christ Jesus and obedience to God's law.
Those whom the Lord blesses, I believe, are pure of heart, delighting in God's revealed and written will, choosing to live faithfully and trustfully in the sovereign care of their gracious and loving Father, using His blessings not for selfish pursuits or exploitative purposes but for the benefit and blessing of others. The blessed are not those who are temporarily happy due to earthly circumstances but those who are consistently joyful due to eternal expectations. Blessings are not found in earthly storage units but in heavenly storehouses (reference Matthew 6:19-20), and the most bountiful blessings on earth are but a shadow of the heavenly reward awaiting the Lord's faithful!
Below are a representation of Scriptures, which define those who are "blessed". Beloved, I pray that as you celebrate Thanksgiving this week, you will meditate upon God's Word, fully embracing your Divinely bestowed blessings and fully acknowledging the Lord Who favors His faithful. And please know that "I always thank my God as I remember you in my prayers, because I hear about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints. I pray that you may be active in sharing your faith, so that you will have a full understanding of every good thing we have in Christ." (Philemon 1:6-7).
"Blessed is the man
who does not walk
in the counsel of the wicked
or stand in the way of sinners
or sit in the seat of mockers."
(Psalm 1:1)
"Blessed is he
whose transgressions are forgiven,
whose sins are covered."
(Psalm 32:1)
"Blessed is the man
whose sin
the LORD does not count against him
and in whose spirit is no deceit."
(Psalm 32:2;
see also Romans 4:7-8)
"Blessed is the nation
whose God is the LORD ..."
(Psalm 33:12;
see also Ecclesiastes 10:17)
"... blessed is the man
who takes refuge in Him."
(Psalm 34:8; see also 2:12)
"Blessed is the man
who makes the LORD his trust,
who does not look to the proud,
to those who turn aside to false gods."
(Psalm 40:4)
"Blessed is he
who has regard for the weak ..."
(Psalm 41:1)
"Blessed are those
You choose and bring near
to live in your courts!"
(Psalm 65:4a)
"Blessed are those
who dwell in Your house ..."
(Psalm 84:4)
"Blessed are those
whose strength is in You,
who have set their hearts on pilgrimage."
(Psalm 84:5)
"O LORD Almighty,
blessed is the man
who trusts in You."
(Psalm 84:12;
see also Proverbs 16:20;
Jeremiah 17:7)
"Blessed are those
who have learned
to acclaim You,
who walk
in the light
of Your presence, O LORD."
(Psalm 89:15)
"Blessed is the man
You discipline, O LORD,
the man You teach
from Your law."
(Psalm 94:12;
see also Job 5:17;
Proverbs 29:18)
"Blessed are they
who maintain justice,
who constantly do
what is right."
(Psalm 106:3;
see also Isaiah 56:1-2)
"Blessed is the man
who fears the LORD,
who finds great delight
in His commands."
(Psalm 112:1;
see also Proverbs 28:14)
"Blessed is he
who comes
in the name of the LORD."
(Psalm 118:26a;
see also Matthew 21:9;
Mark 11:9;
Luke 13:35, 19:38;
John 12:13)
"Blessed are they
whose ways are blameless,
who walk according
to the law of the LORD."
(Psalm 119:1)
"Blessed are they
who keep His statutes
and seek Him
with all their heart."
(Psalm 119:2;
see also Luke 11:28)
"Blessed are all
who fear the LORD,
who walk in His ways."
(Psalm 128:1;
see also Proverbs 8:32)
"... blessed are the people
whose God is the LORD."
(Psalm 144:15)
"Blessed is he
whose help
is the God of Jacob,
whose hope
is in the LORD his God."
(Psalm 146:5)
"Blessed is the man
who finds Wisdom ..."
(Proverbs 3:13)
"Blessed is the man
who listens to Me,
watching daily at My doors,
waiting at My doorway."
(Proverbs 8:34)
"... blessed is he
who is kind to the needy."
(Proverbs 14:21)
"... the LORD is a God of justice.
Blessed are all
who wait for Him!"
(Isaiah 30:18;
see also Daniel 12:12)
" 'Blessed are the poor in spirit,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.' "
(Matthew 5:3;
see also Luke 6:20)
" 'Blessed are those who mourn,
for they will be comforted.' "
(Matthew 5:4;
see also Luke 6:21b)
" 'Blessed are the meek,
for they will inherit the earth.' "
(Matthew 5:5)
" 'Blessed are those
who hunger and thirst for righteousness,
for they will be filled.' "
(Matthew 5:6;
see also Luke 6:21a)
" 'Blessed are the merciful,
for they will be shown mercy.' "
(Matthew 5:7)
" 'Blessed are the pure in heart,
for they will see God.' "
(Matthew 5:8)
" 'Blessed are the peacemakers,
for they will be called
sons of God.' "
(Matthew 5:9)
" 'Blessed are those
who are persecuted
because of righteousness,
for theirs
is the kingdom of heaven.' "
(Matthew 5:10)
" 'Blessed are you
when people insult you,
persecute you
and falsely say all kinds of evil
against you because of Me.' "
(Matthew 5:11;
see also Luke 6:22;
1 Peter 3:14, 4:14)
" 'Blessed is the man
who does not fall away
on account of Me.' "
(Matthew 11:6;
see also Luke 7:23)
" '... blessed are your eyes
because they see,
and your ears
because they hear.' "
(Matthew 13:6;
see also Luke 10:23)
" 'Blessed is she
who has believed
that what the Lord has said to her
will be accomplished!' "
(Luke 1:45)
" 'Blessed is the man
who will eat at the feast
in the kingdom of God.' "
(Luke 14:15)
" '... blessed are those
who have not seen
and yet have believed.' "
(John 20:29)
"So those who have faith
are blessed
along with Abraham,
the man of faith."
(Galatians 3:9)
"Blessed is the man
who perseveres under trial,
because when he has stood the test,
he will receive the crown of life
that God has promised
to those who love Him."
(James 1:12; see also 5:11)
"Blessed is the one
who reads the words
of this prophecy,
and blessed are those
who hear it
and take to heart
what is written in it,
because the time is near."
(Revelation 1:3)
" 'Blessed are the dead
who die in the Lord
from now on.' "
(Revelation 14:13)
" 'Behold, I come like a thief!
Blessed is he who stays awake
and keeps his clothes with him,
so that he may not go naked
and be shamefully exposed.' "
(Revelation 16:15)
"... 'Blessed are those
who are invited
to the wedding supper
of the Lamb!' "
(Revelation 19:9)
"Blessed and holy are those
who have part
in the first resurrection."
(Revelation 20:6)
" 'Behold, I am coming soon!
Blessed is he
who keeps the words
of the prophecy
in this Book.' "
(Revelation 22:7)
" 'Blessed are those
who wash their robes,
that they may have the right
to the tree of life
and may go through the gates
into the city.' "
(Revelation 22:14)
May you, my precious friend, be richly blessed!
"Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, Who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ." (Ephesians 1:3). Precious Father, I thank You for the gifts of Your grace, Your mercy, Your love and Your Salvation. I thank You for Your Son, Jesus Christ, whom You sent to atone for my sinfulness and to provide the only Way to Your Holy presence. I am grateful for Your blessings, and I pray that I will never take them for granted. I pray to look "intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and [to continue] to do this, not forgetting what [I have] heard, but doing it—[so that I] will be blessed in what [I do]." (Reference James 1:25). I give You thanks and praise in the name of Jesus Christ, the Blessed One (reference Mark 14:61; Luke 1:42; 1 Timothy 1:11, 6:15; Titus 2:13). Amen.
comes in His glory,
and all the angels with Him,
He will sit on His throne
in heavenly glory.
All the nations
will be gathered before Him,
and He will separate the people
one from another
as a shepherd separates
the sheep from the goats.
He will put the sheep
on His right
and the goats
on His left.
Then the King will say
to those on His right,
'Come, you who are blessed
by My Father;
take your inheritance,
the kingdom prepared for you
since the creation of the world.' "
(Matthew 25:31-34)
For further reflection on this topic, see also ...
Copyright 2008. Kathryn B. Wells. All Rights Reserved.
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