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Previous Challenge Entry (Level 3 - Advanced)
Topic: BLESSED (03/07/19)
The word "blessed" in the Bible is generally defined as happy—and who doesn’t want to be happy? Many believe they’ll find happiness in fortune, fame, or finding the love of their life, and yet sadly, when they attain them, they are still left feeling empty—always wanting more. Studies have shown that those with the least are more likely to describe themselves as happy.

Using the word “happy” in place of blessed in the Bible makes it easier to understand what God tells us will lead to happiness. The Bible doesn’t say, blessed (happy) are those who seek after blessedness (happiness), but rather, "blessed [happy] are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness... for they will be filled." (Matthew 5:6) Other verses tell us not to worry about tomorrow, but to seek after His kingdom and His righteousness and all else will be added.

Being filled, lacking nothing and being worry-free is the very picture of happiness, but it isn’t easy to stay focused on righteous things when there is so much unrighteousness everywhere we look. Perhaps that’s why those living in third world countries are often happier than we are—they don’t have as many options to make wrong choices or the time to seek after unrighteousness.

Ironically enough, the times I've been most focused on (or seeking after) thinness, I've GAINED weight. As soon as I resolve to eat less, food is ALL I can think about. If I decide to go on a particular diet, I become so obsessed with the rules and restrictions that it robs me of the God-given enjoyment of eating.

As shallow as my analogy is, I can see the parallels. It's all about what we set our minds on. Happiness is a by-product of making right choices, God's kingdom choices...like honesty, selflessness and gratitude.

In our fallen world we will never stop longing for a new heaven and a new earth, where there will be no more sorrow and no more pain. I have experienced such intense sorrow that I felt my heart was literally breaking and other times where I thought my heart might burst with joy. However, nothing has filled me with such blessed joy as experiencing God’s PERSONAL love for me—lovingly intervening in my life in ways that can only be described as miraculous. There is no greater blessing than being a child of the King, who knows and loves me perfectly. I am indeed blessed!

"Focus on heaven and get earth thrown in. Focus on earth and get neither.” C.S. Lewis
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This article has been read 164 times
Member Comments
Member
Date
C D Swanson 
03/15/19
Excellent! Amen...lovely and powerful message, well done!

Blessings~
Barbara Lynn Culler 
03/17/19
I like your analogy of dieting. Been there, done that! I've never considered it in this light, however!
Karen Dick 
03/18/19
Your article was very well written and had a wonderful message. Fulfillment truly comes only from God's love. Well done.
Shann Hall-LochmannVanBennekom 
03/19/19
You make some great points in this. I like the idea of subbing the word happy with blessed to get another take on the verses, a way that might be clearer to some. Although I realize you're trying to make a point, you do use the word happy or a form of it quite a bit. Perhaps tightening some of the sentences or using synonyms might cut down on some of that. You definitely wrote on topic. While not everyone may agree that blessed means happy according to the Bible, I think you put it in terms that are easier to understand and did so in a fresh way. Also having a different perspective often will make the reader stop and think or even research the Bible and decide for herself what God means when using the word, blessed. I think it's always good when an author compels a reader to think. Good job.