Ephesians 1:3
“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”

What do you think of when you hear the word blessing? I tend to think of success, friends, health, being comfortable, and things going the way I want/need. People all around say “What a blessing, I got a house,” “What a blessing she got a job” or “What a blessing, I am pregnant.” According to scripture, is that really a blessing or are these things better articulated by the word “GIFT?” Nothing we have is ours. If I don’t get a house or I never get pregnant am I robbed of a blessing? Would God not be good? No! He is good wether we receive these good things or not! Why? Because I can receive joy from the Lord, wether I have my own children or not. I can receive perseverance and protection wether I own the shelter above my head or not. Our culture associates health, wealth and prosperity with “blessings” every day. BUT Scripture says, blessings have “spiritual” and “eternal” value, meaning in heaven they still exist unlike the things of the earth. Blessings can arise out of gifts, however, the gifts, in and of themselves, only lead us to the true spiritual blessings of Christ.  Scripture says:

“Blessed are the POOR in the spirit”
“Blessed are the WEAK”
“Blessed are those who MOURN”
Blessed are those who are PERSECUTED”
-Matthew 5

Ephesians 1:3 has been a powerful verse of truth in my life in light of the lies thrown at me daily. It HAS been done. The Lord HAS BLESSED US WITH EVERY SPIRITUAL BLESSING. How do you see your blessings? Are they spiritual and eternal or earthly gifts? Are they something you hold on to as “yours” with entitlement, or are they gifts to be freely given and taken away?

Rejoice in the hardships and the gifts we receive from the Lord. They are both truly the Lord’s kindness towards you!!