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Would You Like to Experience Incredible Blessings?

Words…

I’m one of those women who just loves words.

I mean, it makes sense, I majored in education in English.

Truly, I love to write. And, I love to post on social media and speak and teach and write long text messages.

I just like words. 

Word meanings. Concepts of words. Word Pictures.

And understanding words.

I Put the Words Everywhere

Also, much to the embarrassment of my children, I like to post words everywhere and wear my words everywhere.

And, I don’t just post on social media, I post words all over my house.

Sure, there are quotes and Bible verses.

Even more, I like to hang on my walls plaques and pictures with words like 

“Just pray.” “Gather.” “Choose joy.”

And my daughter’s personal favorite… “Grateful. Thankful. Blessed.”

Just for fun today I’m wearing one of my shirts that has words on it. 

It says, “Blessed.”

Let’s talk about the word “blessed.”

What does it mean to say blessings or bless you or be blessed?

The word “blessed” in Psalm 1:1 is from the word “ʾesher” and means happiness or blessedness. 

Moreover, it’s found 45 times in the Old Testament

And Jesus talks all about being blessed in the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew 5.

Remember, “Blessed are you when…“

But what is it really – to be blessed?

Is it great health, wealth, perfect relationships, amazing jobs, happy children and grandchildren, and nothing but blue skies??

Or is it something more?

According to the Key-Word Study Bible, “The Greek word translated blessed in these passages is makarioi which means to be fully satisfied. 

It refers to those receiving God’s favor, regardless of the circumstances.”

What is a blessing, then? 

In the simplest terms, Scripture shows that blessing is anything God gives that makes us fully satisfied in Him.

What is Blessing?

A blessing is anything that draws us closer to Jesus. 

Anything that helps us let go of the temporal and hold on more tightly to the eternal. 

And often it is the struggles, trials, aching disappointments, and unfulfilled longings that best enable us to do that.

Even more, to be blessed is to be thrown into the arms of Jesus – to be pressed into a deeper and fuller relationship with Him.

In my own life, to be blessed to look to Jesus, give Him my day, lay down all of my burdens, and then get up and enjoy my life.

To Experience Incredible Blessings is to…

First… It’s humming for no reason.

Second… to be blessed to be at peace deep within my soul.

Or, taking a walk outside.

Fourth, it’s enjoying a sweet conversation with my daughter or son.

And, folding laundry while listening to music.

Sixth, it’s a breeze on my face on a beautiful day.

Or, laughing with friends and family.

Eighth, it is the satisfaction of cleaning that bathroom.

Or, putting away groceries and being thankful for food.

Tenth, to be blessed is to experience calm in the depths of my being.

Or, coming into the cool air conditioning on a hot day.

To Experience Incredible Blessings can also include things like:

Interacting with amazing people on social media.

And, studying and writing material for blogs, podcasts, and teaching.

Knowing our world is crazy, but I don’t have to be crazy too!

Or, A long phone call with an old friend.

Enjoying a great meal – that I didn’t have to prepare!

Breathing deeply.

Sleeping well.

You get the idea!

Being blessed is to enjoy the Lord Jesus and to enjoy your life – no matter what else is happening in the world around you.

Let’s talk today about three ways that we can experience more incredible blessings in our lives:

Let’s look at God’s blueprint for a blessed life.

This outline comes from Pastor Adrian Rogers, and I think it’s so good.

And… The outline is based on Psalm 1:1-3. Indeed, there are three facts about the life that God blesses.

If you want to be a blessed woman of God, here are three things to do:

First, see the companions that the blessed woman shuns. 

The Bible says, “Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor stands in the path of sinners, nor sits in the seat of the scornful.” NKJV

In The Message Bible, we read:

“How well God must like you—
    you don’t walk in the ruts of those blind-as-bats,
    you don’t stand with the good-for-nothings,
    and you don’t take your seat among the know-it-alls.”

Over in the New Living Bible, we read:

“Oh, the joys of those who do not
    follow the advice of the wicked,
    or stand around with sinners,
    or join in with mockers.”

God divides here between the righteous and the unrighteous, the Saints and the Ain’ts.

And, God talks about those who are on his left and his right.

To be blessed, we avoid the sensual wisdom of the world, the sinful ways of the world, and the devil’s scornful words.

I’m not sure there’s ever been a time where we had to stand up and choose and fight and decide as we’ve never had to before.

But… It’s getting dark out there!

Crazy. Even weird.

Encouragement from Pastor Adrian Rogers…

“We’re living in strange days, are we not?

When I see what’s happening to this world, if I didn’t know the Lord Jesus Christ, I’m not sure what I would do.

Yet, knowing the Bible and Bible prophecy, when I see all these things coming to pass, they do not shake me.

Sometimes they grieve me, sometimes they sadden me, but they do not shake me.

That’s because I know God’s Word.

And, I know they’re a fulfillment of prophecy.

I can say with all the saints, ‘Praise God, it’s getting gloriously dark.‘”

Here’s the key to this first verse about how to experience incredible blessings:

As it gets darker, we need to choose better and better friends.

We need to be so careful who we read, listen to, talk to, and hang out with!

Also, we need to watch out for who we walk with, stand with, and sit with. 

1 Cor. 15:33 reminds us, 

Do not be deceived: “Bad company corrupts good morals.”

In other words – to be more blessed, we need to wisely choose our company and friends and what and who we listen to. 

Also, I’ve got another podcast on this topic. You can listen to it HERE.

Second, to experience incredible blessings, there’s the communion that the blessed woman seeks.

Psalm 1:2 reads, “But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and in his law, he meditates day and night.”

The Message Bible puts it this way, 

“Instead, you thrill to God’s Word,
    you chew on Scripture day and night.”

The blessed woman gets her inspiration, her information, and her attitudes from the Bible. 

She goes to the Word of God to get her truth.

To be blessed, we have to open and read our Bibles.

So let me share a statistic with you and then ask you an honest question.

I’ve recently read a survey of Christians. 

It said that only 9% of professing Christians read their Bible or open it every day. 

In 2020, it was 20%. Since 2020 it’s gone down to 9%.

They weren’t talking about Bible study, but rather just opening and reading the Bible even a little each day.

That means that 91% of professing Christians don’t have a regular habit of looking at their Bible.

Many probably do the week-to-week deal – you know, find your Bible when it’s time for church.

I’m not criticizing or condemning. 

But I do wonder if a lot of people are missing out on a lot of blessings. 

Now, I don’t completely understand it, but I do know that we are promised to be blessed if we open our Bibles and read.

This brings up a question:

Are you and I opening the Bible every day? 

Are we getting into it and reading it? 

Do we study it? 

Or are we like the 91%? 

And it rarely gets opened except on special occasions or at church.

If for no other reason… Let’s open our Bibles and dig into the Word so God can open up the heavens and bless us.

Open Bibles = wide-open blessings!

A Blessing Story

Years ago, I heard a preacher’s story years ago at a retreat about a man who died and went to heaven.

As he entered the Pearly Gates, he was shown around by Peter and John. 

They showed him the golden streets, his mansion, and all kinds of amazing things in the heavens.

But then, the man noticed a big, huge warehouse across the way from him. 

He asked, “What is that warehouse?”

They said, “Oh, you don’t want to go see that!”

Then, he said, “Yes, I do. I want to know what that is. Will you take me over there?”

So, they went and opened the warehouse, and it was full of racks and racks and racks of gift boxes that were wrapped and topped with bows.

The man who had just gotten to heaven asked, “What are all of those boxes?”

Peter told him, 

“Those are all the unclaimed blessings from the people on earth.

 Also, those were the blessings people were meant to have, that they never received. 

And, these were the blessings they could have enjoyed, but they were sadly never sent or received.”

It’s just a made-up story, but it makes a good point. 

Perhaps there are blessings upon blessings upon blessings for us if we just spent a little more time each day in the Bible with the Lord… Soaking up His truth.

I know I want to spend more time with Him.

Further, I don’t want to miss out on any blessings. Do you?

And, I want God to be able to send every single gift and blessing and sweet present He has for me!

Don’t you?

There’s a third truth in the blueprint for God’s blessings.

Here’s the third trait.

Third – To experience Incredible blessings, notice the character that the Blessed Woman shows.

Psalm 1:3 says this. 

“He shall be like a tree planted by rivers of water, that brings forth fruit in its season, whose leaf also shall not wither, and whatever he does shall prosper.”

The Message Bible reads, 

“You’re a tree replanted in Eden,
    bearing fresh fruit every month,
Never dropping a leaf,
    always in blossom.”

Here’s the point…  Like a tree, that blessed woman will show vitality. 

She also shows a life that comes from the river of revival. 

Even more, this lady will have stability and solidness like a firmly rooted tree. 

And she will show consistency and prosperity. 

She will continue to achieve God’s will for her life.

For This Woman…

The blessing will be that she will be firmly established and rooted and grounded.

And, the blessed woman is not some little Weeping Willow that blows with every breeze that comes by.

She is this strong rooted and grounded tree that stands firm no matter what blows in her direction.

Also, she’s strong; she is amazing.

To be blessed is to be secure.

We can find our security in Jesus Christ.

I love Psalm 16:8.

It says this, “I have set the Lord always before me; because he is at my right hand, I shall not be shaken.”

Would you like to be blessed with security in your life?

Press in closer to Jesus today. 

Let Him make you strong and grounded and rooted deeply.

A quote I love from Pastor Adrian Rogers says this. 

“To know Him is to love Him.

To love Him is to trust Him. 

Also, to trust Him is to obey Him. 

And to obey Him is to be blessed by Him.”

I don’t know who said it, but I’ve heard it over and over and over, and it’s this. 

“Blessings follow obedience.“

As we go into this day, let’s do all we know to do. 

Let’s obey all we know to obey and follow closely the Lord Jesus today.

And, let’s give Him every opportunity to bless us!

To be blessed, in recap, remember.

First… Be careful who you spend time with, sit with, walk with, and listen to. Choose your companions wisely.

Second… Spend some time each day in the Bible. Time in the Bible brings sweet blessings.

Third… Take your roots deep and get grounded in the Lord Jesus. Draw up close to him and let him plant you firmly. And securely.

Blessed!

I believe God wants to bless your life and mine in amazing ways! 

More than we have ever experienced before.

Today, I’m praying that you will be incredibly blessed!

Could I ask one quick favor before we go?? 

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Remember…

We are ordinary women, but we are pursuing an extraordinary God.

And He is crazy about you!

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