“BLESSED” = the ultimate well-being, and distinctive spiritual joy of those who share in the salvation of the Kingdom of God.
Last week I was rereading the Beatitudes from Matthew 5 and Luke 6 and then found a post I’d done that included them. I’ve edited the post some, but Jesus’s words are still true. Please join me in praying and declaring these things over your life.
Jesus, Rabbi, Teacher,
You taught your disciples/followers/learners that…
-I am blessed if I am poor in spirit, not spiritually proud, and self-sufficient, for I will inherit the kingdom of heaven as a gift and reward.
-I am blessed when I mourn over personal and corporate sins, for I will be comforted.
-I am blessed when I am meek and humble before God, for I will inherit the new promised land.
-I am blessed when I have a deep longing for personal righteousness and justice for the oppressed, for this hunger will be filled.
-I am blessed when I am merciful, for I will be shown mercy.
-I am blessed when my heart – the center of my being, my mind, will, and emotions – is pure, for I shall see God.
-I am blessed when I promote peace, as far as it depends on me, because it reflects the character of God and I am called a child of God.
-I am blessed when I am persecuted because of righteousness, when I have to prove my fitness for the Kingdom, for you will bless me in your Kingdom.
-I am blessed when people insult me, persecute me, and falsely say all kinds of evil against me because of God. Even in that I will rejoice, because my reward in heaven is great. In the same way, the prophets before me were persecuted. I am blessed.
I ask you to create a pure and clean heart in me because I know that the pure in heart will SEE God. I ask you to send help and aid to my soul so I can attain my highest end. I declare that my feelings, desires, affections, and aversions will come under the alignment of the Holy Spirit. I will bless the Lord at all times because you are good and faithful, your mercies endure forever, and you are high above all things. I am highly favored because the Lord is my God, and for that I am truly blessed.
Amen!
Now when Jesus saw the crowds, he went up on a mountainside and sat down. His disciples came to him, and he began to teach them.
“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.
Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.
Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.
Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.
Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.
Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
“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.” (Matthew 5:1-12 NIV)
Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you. (James 1:21 NIV)
Adapted from June 28, 2021 post
Some notes from: NIV Study Bible (c) Zondervan, 2011