You Are Blessed

Hello Friends,

It’s finally October! Pumpkin patches are blooming, leaves are changing and falling, tractors are in the fields harvesting, football is on the television, and every weekend is filled with some sort of event or festivity. The season of Fall is certainly well on its way. Are you excited that Fall has arrived? Are you excited that September has given way to October? I don’t know about you, but I enjoy the season of Fall and the month of October. I’m looking forward to attending events and to spend time outside doing some yard clean-up and sitting around a nice bonfire roasting s’mores. October is here, Fall is here, and the excitement of something new is in the air.

As I was thinking about this new season and new month and all the things that come with each, I found myself considering the blessings that this time of year gifts us. Have you ever received a blessing before? Has someone ever called you a blessing? Have you felt blessed? Have you given a blessing or even been a blessing? Blessings are fascinating, life-changing, and are needed, especially in a time when things don’t seem so happy. Let’s explore this idea of blessing…

Negative voices bombard us daily, and it’s hard not to absorb some of those messages. Even as adults, it’s difficult to sift through adverse comments, experiences, and our own thought patterns, and remind ourselves of truth and positivity.

Harvard Business School recently studied the correlation between team performance and the frequency of praise and criticism given to the individuals on the team. They found that the highest-performing teams received nearly six positive comments for every negative one. The medium-performing teams received almost twice as many positive comments as negative ones. But the low-performing teams received almost three negative comments for every positive. The results of this study clearly confirm that we all need to hear more positive comments, more blessings. And a blessing goes even further than a positive comment.

Speaking a blessing is an opportunity to open our spiritual eyes and declare truth over someone—God’s truth! As adults, it’s easier for us to recognize these truths and understand the importance of them, but for you it might seem confusing. So let me help you understand what a blessing is. A blessing can be a prayer, a Bible passage, or words of encouragement. Blessings can be spoken or they can be given or shared through an object or even through a gesture. In a blessing, the recipient feels seen, heard, and cared about. That blessing brings joy and happiness to that person.

And did you know that even in negativity, God is still blessing you and making you happy? In the Old Testament, God Himself told Moses how he was to bless the Israelites: The Lord said to Moses, “Tell Aaron and his sons, ‘This is how you are to bless the Israelites. Say to them: ‘“The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you; the Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace”’ (Numbers 6:22–26).

In the New Testament, Paul set a beautiful example for us when he addressed the church in Ephesus: “I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen” (Ephesians 3:16­–21).

When we look to Jesus, he tells us on several occasions how we are blessed. He tell us that we are loved (John 3:16), that we are forgiven (1 John 1:9), that we are God’s workmanship, His creation (Ephesians 2:10), that we are never alone (Matthew 28:20b), that we are chosen and claimed (1 Peter 1:9), and that we are protected from the evil one (2 Thessalonians 3:3). Every day we are blessed, no matter what is going on in our life, because Jesus is constantly making sure that we are treasured by him and by those who love us.

So, a blessing can be a prayer, it can be a Bible passage, it can be words spoken to us, and it can be things given to us. But most importantly, a blessing is a reminder that Jesus is looking out for you–making sure that amongst the negativity that you are able to smile and be happy. Remember, that you are blessed!

Your Friend, Holy Spirit!