Can You Truly Say...I AM BLESSED!?

   There is not a person in this world that does not want to be a  person blessed by God. Especially when we think of being blessed in a material, tangible way. But more importantly to me, is to be blessed with a life that is whole because of God's presence. There are many definitions of the words "bless/blessing/blessed". A few are, "God's divine favor resting upon one." "To bestow good of any kind upon." "To grant happiness, health, or prosperity." But the one often skipped over is, "To consecrate or make, pronounce, holy." I guess I'm going to have to be the one to remind you, as I was reminded, that there are requirements to being blessed by the Lord, and also, make you stop and think the next time you say, "I AM BLESSED!"

  Psalm 1: 1-2 says this, "Oh the joys of those who do not follow the advice of the wicked, or stand around with sinners, or join in with mockers. But they delight in the law of the Lord, meditating on it day and night." (NLT) These verses describes the way of  righteousness we need to walk in as women and men of God. When I re-read this, I saw that a blessed person needed to be a person that has chosen to be separated from people who just ain't right! From those who you can't have a conversation with without something negative, evil and wicked coming out of their mouths, or being demonstrated by their behavior, but they enjoy telling you what you and everyone else should do! You know what I'm talking about...the Word made it plain! It used the word "mockers" or "the scornful", meaning people who attack you and others with contempt and ridicule.  In God's eyes, this type of person is ungodly. The ungodly pleases the fleshly, lustful things they desire, instead of desiring to please God. They can in no way be delighting in the Law of the Lord, nor meditating on it. Are there any ungodly attributes present in you or the people you associate with? If so, sorry, No Blessing! 

  But the godly person loves, and obeys God's Word, because they know what it says, because of time spent reading it and thinking about and living it daily. This is the way we delight in His Law. The godly person's life is characterized by the love of God operating through them, by walking in obedience to God...this person strives to be righteous. And, as they continue to strive, there will be certain things that they will shun! Like "profane and vain babblings." and the appearance of evil. You just can't experience God's blessing without casting off or separating from things that will utterly destroy your qualifications for being truly blessed!

   To sum it up, If you want to be truly blessed like Psalm 1:3 says..."...like trees planted along the riverbank, bearing fruit each season. Their leaves never wither, and they prosper in all they do."  Meaning the definition of the word bless/blessed is who and what you are...protected from evil, happy, healthy and prosperous, meaning whole in every area, especially in the LORD, then you must be named among The Righteous! It's the only choice we have! Unless you prefer receiving what the wicked will receive...verses 4-5, "...They are like worthless chaff, scattered by the wind. They will be condemned at the time of judgement. Sinners will have no place among the godly."  I want the promise in verse 6a, "For the Lord watches over the path of the godly..." I WANT TO BE TRULY BLESSED! DON'T YOU!? OK then, continue to be "Godly and Beautiful!" so you can say with assurance, "I AM BLESSED!"

Pastor Sheila