How Webster defines blessing:
noun
the act or words of a person who blesses.
a special favor, mercy, or benefit:
a favor or gift bestowed by God, thereby bringing happiness.
the invoking of God's favor upon a person:
praise; devotion; worship, especially grace said before a meal:
approval or good wishes:
Bible Verses about Blessings:
Numbers 6:24-26 - "The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you; the Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace."
James 1:17 - Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.
Isaiah 41:13 - For I, the Lord your God, hold your right hand; it is I who say to you, “Fear not, I am the one who helps you.”
1 Peter 5:6 - Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you,
3 John 1:2 - Beloved, I pray that all may go well with you and that you may be in good health, as it goes well with your soul.
There are numerous verses that talk of the blessings of God and that is so encouraging for us. The one I want to talk about today is James 1:12 first let's review what James 1 is about, faith and humility is what it is titled in my Bible. When we ask God for anything, we are to have faith he will give it to us, in his time and per his will and know he will give generously and we have to carry that faith with us through the trials we face. Through these trials God walks with us holding our hand and when needed he carries us through the storms.
So how does a believer respond to hard times? James calls us to label those moments as joyful things because they bring the opportunity to trust God at a deeper level. This is trusting faith. James urges us to take responsibility for our desire to sin and not to blame God. God may allow suffering into our lives, but He never uses hardships to try to lure us away from Himself. He always encourages us to move nearer to Him in the hard times.
James 2-11
2 Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters,[1] whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3 because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. 4 Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. 5 If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. 6 But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. 7 That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. 8 Such a person is double-minded and unstable in all they do. 9 Believers in humble circumstances ought to take pride in their high position. 10 But the rich should take pride in their humiliation-since they will pass away like a wild flower. 11 For the sun rises with scorching heat and withers the plant; its blossom falls and its beauty is destroyed. In the same way, the rich will fade away even while they go about their business.
REFLECTION: Are you joyful through your storms? What can you do to thank God for the trials?
ACTION: Take quiet to listen to God and give him a chance to speak to you about where you are in your relationship with him. Let him show you what he wants for you.
12 Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him.
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