Walking in the blessed life

Recently, one Sunday morning a man from my church pulled me
aside to talk to me. I have gotten to know him over the years and the word that
describes him the most is raw.  I
never met any one before who just lives so authentically and speaks like only
God is listening. He began to tell me of his story. He proclaimed with his
mouth to his wife one day, “wouldn’t it be nice if I had some time off again,
like when I broke my back. Although I was in pain God used that time to strengthen
our marriage.” The following week this man had a major accident at work
and fell on his back and literally almost died. A co-worker that he did not
know at the time was a Christian and came over and prayed over him that he
would live. My friend got up from the ground and was healed in Jesus name.

I stood there shocked to hear what almost happened to him
and then he began to declare, “I am blessed, I am blessed, my Jesus loves me, I
am blessed.”

From this true story, I wondered are we (as the body Christ)
truly are living and walking in the blessed life?

Just last night my adopted family and I were talking about
missionaries. How hard the road is for those who say, “I will give up my life
freely for the joy of serving my king.” How this road has so many obstacles and
barriers, especially when it comes to finances. We all agreed that
missionaries, pastors, teachers and so on should be the most
financially sounded
people on the earth. That it should not be chore to raise funds, that people
should give to them not out of obligation, but because they see their hearts
and are doing what God has called them to do.

However, for me as a missionary I have struggled in this
area so often. I know God has placed a call on my life. I am marked by God to
be a warrior for His Kingdom. I will preach the gospel to the ends of the
earth, until the Lord takes me home. There is nothing in this world I want to
do, but to love on Jesus. But so often I have to place my insecurities in God’s
hands, trusting that He will provide abundantly for me because He loves me.

Like my friend who said, “I am blessed, I am blessed.” I to
want to declare out loud “I am blessed.”

We as children of God should be living in the supernatural
overflow of God’s love.  We should
expect miracles, signs and wonders because our heavenly daddy loves us so much.
Even for those crazy missionaries who are giving up everything to serve God,
that we should expect our daddy knows what we need and will provide our manna
everyday.

This is the life of abundance; there is nothing like it in
this broken world of ours. God comes down everyday with a kiss. He wants us to
be so intertwined in Him that nothing else matters.

In the bible the word, “blessed” has been used 302 times. I
think God was trying to get our attention here. Just look at Jesus important
sermon of the beatitudes in Matthew 5:3-12 MSG

 “You’re blessed when you’re at the end of your rope.
With less of you there is more of God and his rule.

You’re
blessed when you feel you’ve lost what is most dear to you. Only then can you
be embraced by the One most dear to you.

You’re
blessed when you’re content with just who you are–no more, no less. That’s the
moment you find yourselves proud owners of everything that can’ be bought.

You’re
blessed when you’ve worked up a good appetite for God. He’s food and drink in
the best meal you’ll ever eat.

You’re
blessed when you care. At the moment of being ‘careful’, you find yourselves
cared for.

You’re
blessed when you get your inside world–your mind and heart–put right. Then
you can see God in the outside world.

You’re
blessed when you can show people how to cooperate instead of compete or fight.
That’s when you discover who you really are, and your place in God’s family.

You’re
blessed when your commitment to God provokes persecution. The persecution
drives you even deeper into God’s kingdom.

Not only
that–count yourselves blessed every time people put you down or throw you out
or speak lies about you to discredit me. What it means is that the truth is too
close for comfort and they are uncomfortable.

You can be
glad when that happens–give a cheer, even!–for though they don’t like it, I
do! And all heaven applauds. And know that you are in good company. My prophets
and witnesses have always gotten into this kind of trouble.”

This is the character traits and attitudes in which Jesus
wants his disciples to embodied. When it comes down to it, you’re blessed when
you do the opposite of the world. I don’t know about you, but I want to live
this kind of life.

So how do you live everyday? Do you walk in the favor of the
Lord? Are you enjoying the blessings of the Lord even in the midst of
suffering? Are you being persecuted, but still your laughing because God has
you?

Acts 16:19-40 gives an account of Paul and Silas being
beaten and thrown into jail because of their preaching of the gospel. At
midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing to the Lord and there was a
huge earthquake and their chains fell off.