I Am Blessed

I Am Blessed

                I recently bought a charm for a necklace that said I am Blessed. But I never wore it. After buying it, I read a blog post about being blessed. And I didn’t want to proclaim I was blessed anymore. I have since read more similar posts, and being blessed or, at least, proclaiming it seemed like a negative thing.

                Many equate blessing with material possessions or having things. If you have a lot, you are blessed. So if you don’t, are you not blessed? Does God love you more if you have more?

                I have always called my children blessings from the Lord. So are childless couples less blessed?

                What does blessing mean? How are you blessed? I recently heard a sermon on Ephesian 1 that put it back into perspective for me. Ephesians 1:3 says Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places,… When I say I am blessed, I am talking about spiritual blessings. It is what God has done for me.  I am not bragging; I am giving God the glory. I am grateful. I am acknowledging all God has done. I am not thinking about material things. I am thinking of my spiritual blessings.

                How am I blessed with spiritual blessings? Ephesians 1 goes on to tell us more. He chose us. He adopted us as his children into his family. He redeemed us. He bought us with a price. Jesus died so we might have life eternal instead of punishment. He forgave us. He has made us His. He has given us purpose and has equipped us to do what He want us to do. We have an inheritance. We are sealed with the Holy Spirit. God claims us as His own. Those are our spiritual blessings.

                I am blessed. In Christ I have life and love and hope. I have joy because of all Christ has done for us. I have peace. I have the assurance of eternal life in Heaven when I die. He gives me the strength to live through the hard times and to face all the difficulties life brings. I belong to the family of God. My identity and future are in God’s hands. I don’t need to hide that I am blessed. I do not need to be ashamed to proclaim it. I may have to explain what I mean, but I will say it. My blessings are from God. My blessings are spiritual blessings. I am blessed!