Blessed... Blast!

What does being "blessed" really mean?
Okay, i'm moseying along, minding my own business, raising my children, washing the dishes, doing the laundry, cooking for my family, giving to the poor, reading my Bible, commiserating with friends, praying for healing, and BAM!  I get knocked down.

Yeah, yeah, like the song, "i get up again."  I dust myself off, look around for where that slam came from, take stock, and head down the road again... washing, teaching, cooking, reading, praying... BAM!  There it goes again!

Okay, so i get up. Again.  But now i'm starting to wonder what in blazes is going on?

I look around again, see nothing out of the ordinary.... But i sense the presence of evil just as surely as i sense God's presence in church on Sundays.  I know it's there, but i can't see it.  I know it just knocked me down, but i can't tell where it's coming from.

Eventually, i figure out the evil is coming from within.  From within me, from within my family network, from within my home.  That gets my attention.  My Home???

Now, i'm angry.  How have i let this happen?  How has the enemy managed to infiltrate my private quarters, my haven?  What do i do now?

As i pray, seek, and read my Bible, God shows me how "blessed" i am...

"Blessed are the poor in spirit,

for theirs is the kingdom of Heaven."

i am poor in spirit because i recognize i am nothing without the Lord.

"Blessed are those who mourn,

for they will be comforted."

i mourn for my sin and the sin of others because God mourns our sin.

"Blessed are the meek,

for they will inherit the earth."

 i claim no rights to any good deed, for all Good comes from God.

"Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,

for they will be filled."

 i despise injustice; i yearn and strive for righteousness with the power of the Holy Spirit.

"Blessed are the merciful,

for they will be shown mercy."

 How can we not show mercy to a dying world? Compassion, forgiveness, love... God helps us show these things to others in His name.

"Blessed are the pure in heart,

for they will see God."

 i pray for pureness of heart... for darkness to flee... for God's desires for my life to be manifest in my desires.

"Blessed are the peacemakers,

for they will be called sons of God."

 Strife is energy-depleting, soul-wrenching, and spiritually annihilating.  It is exhausting because it is not of God.

"Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness,

for theirs is the kingdom of Heaven."

This part has always been where i start to wonder, "Why, Jesus, did you ruin a perfectly good list of Beatitudes with the last few lines??" (don't shake your finger at me: He knows i feel this way! LOL)  So i'll get Heaven when i am persecuted for the righteousness i so desire... and...

"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." 

[all Scripture lines ~ Matthew 5:1-12 NIV]

Blast! (yes, Buzz Lightyear)

That is the one i always disliked.  Who wants to be insulted?  Persecuted?  Lied about??  Not me.  Remember, i despise injustice!

But... God says i'll be blessed.

Well, from the midst of the persecuting, insulting, lying and scheming, i can tell you that God is blessing me.  I am feeling His peace - if i just stop focusing on the people, the lies, the injustice of it all, and if i keep my eyes locked firmly on His.

The price is high.

But the rewards are great.

i. am. blessed.