Blessings Without Bragging
In the Bible the words blessed and blessing are used over 400 times. That does not include the numerous times God’s blessings are being described without actually using the word ‘blessing’. [http://www.stpancraschichester.org.uk/content/pages/documents/1207643550.pdf] To say that the subject of God’s blessings is pretty important would be an understatement. The idea for this post fell into my lap at the exact moment God wanted it to. We had just been blessed with a new house and property. So, my front porch would have a new look, a new view. I am so excited to be able to share this with you!
A couple of months ago, during our morning devotionals, it worked out perfectly that my oldest had just come home from work and was able to sit down and join my youngest and I while we read our devotional. [Parent Cue – Jax Naz Youth] Perfect timing as always, God! Our verse for the day was Isaiah 12:5, “Sing to the LORD, for he has done glorious things; let this be known to all the world.”. He has done glorious things in our lives, and my kiddos spoke up about the many, many blessings we have received as a family and as individuals. They both realized how God has worked in our lives over the years. It made this momma’s heart melt to hear them each recognize all of the God moments they’ve encountered.
Our conversation moved to ‘how do we talk about God’s blessings?’. We agreed that sharing God’s blessings with others can be a humbling experience, yet it can sometimes feel like we’re bragging. However, if we look closely at Isaiah 12:5, it clearly states that we are to let the world know of the glorious things he has done. I think if we approach our talks of God’s blessings with a humble heart and speak of how God has blessed us and not approach it as ‘Look what I have done all on my own.” we will not be bragging .
I’m not sure where you are all approaching this devotional from in your lives. I have no idea how your hearts are feeling this morning. I am sure that there are some of us who are experiencing hard, dark times. We may be facing uncertainty and confusion. There may be anger underneath some hurt we’ve experienced. I know there are those of us who are just having a hard time picking our head’s up off of the pillow because the thought of facing the day is too much. Unfortunately I understand that there are some who are shaking their head’s thinking there’s no such thing as blessings from God, because it has been so long since the blessings were recognizable.
I know those fears, concerns, struggles, doubt, anger, sadness. I’ve been the one who couldn’t pick her head up off the pillow to face the day. I have been the one…and still am…who lies awake at night wrestling with the anxiety. I want to say, with 100% certainty, that God is blessing you. He will never stop blessing you. Even through the bad days, there are blessings all around you…and me!
Okay, I am going to ask you to put yourself into student mode for a little bit (ooh I can almost hear some of the groaning. It’ll be okay, we’ll walk through it together.) Let’s look at the definition of blessed: In Hebrew, the word means happy or happiness [https://biblehub.com/str/hebrew/835.htm]. However, I also found that it can mean when God extends His benefits What I found completely fascinating was the fact that faith and God’s blessings are intertwined:
3107 makários (from mak-, “become long, large”) – properly, when God extends His benefits (the advantages He confers); blessed.
3107 /makários (“blessed”) describes a believer in enviable (“fortunate”) position from receiving God’s provisions (favor) – which (literally) extend (“make long, large”) His grace (benefits). This happens with receiving (obeying) the Lord’s inbirthings of faith. Hence, faith (4102 /pístis) and 3107 (makários) are closely associated (Ro 4:5-7,14:22,23; Rev 14:12,13).[https://biblehub.com/str/greek/3107.htm]. (emphasis mine)
I just threw a lot of information at you and if it is too confusing, I apologize…please just focus on the parts that I have highlighted. And I am hoping you didn’t get too upset about seeing that when we’re blessed we are happy. I know all too well that the dark days seem to suck all of the happy right out of the air. I know that the grief, pain, hurt, betrayal and disappointments make it very difficult to see the ‘happy’ in anything. I hope that you’ll hear me out.
We read in the above definition that when we receive God’s blessings we are happy and we are also given his provisions, his favor. This, all of this, takes faith. “Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. This is what the ancients were commended for” (Hebrews 11:1-2). Let’s take a quick look at a couple of the ones who went before us.
Take Noah, for example. The man was building an ark for a flood that no one believed was coming. I can only guess that he was mocked and ridiculed. I wonder if his neighbors whispered about him and how the ‘crazy neighbor’ was building an ark. In Genesis Chapters 6 – 9 we see Noah’s account of his faith and his blessings. In Hebrews, the author writes:
“By faith Noah, when warned about things not yet seen, in holy fear built an ark to save his family. By his faith he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness that comes by faith.” (Hebrews 11:7)
Abraham and Sarah were childless in their old age and thought that they would have to make one of the servants in their household their heir. Yet he had faith in what God said, “…’This man will not be your heir, but a son coming from your own body will be your heir’…Abraham believed the LORD, and he credited it to him as righteousness.” (Genesis 15: 4-6).
“By faith Abraham, even though he was past age – and Sarah herself was barren – was enabled to become a father because he considered himself faithful who had made the promise. And so from this one man…came descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky…” (Hebrews 11: 11-12)
Did you notice that Noah and Abraham both had faith, even in the face of uncertainty, and their faith brought about their blessings?! I am not saying that after reading this you’ll be able to easily count all of the blessings around you. I am praying that you’ll allow your faith to get you through so that you can see the blessings. It has to be a constant reminder in the forefront of your mind, at least for me it has to be. I have, after years of thinking the blessings from God were just not for me, learned to open my eyes and notice all of the blessings around me…everything from the blue sky, the sun shinning through the trees, the birds singing, my children laughing, my husband walking through the door after a long day of work. Yes, even those seemingly simple moments in life are blessings!
Alright, let’s say you can now see even the smallest of blessings in your life. You can see through the gunk of life (yes, I said gunk. How else would describe all of the ‘stuff’ that bogs you down?) and you notice how God sends you blessings each day. You can hold on to hope that even though life can be rough and not so pretty at times you will receive his blessings…now what? Well, now we tell of those blessings!
Others are blessed by our blessings when we share them. When we rejoice to the Lord for all he has done, others can see that and they can have hope as well:
“Let them give thanks to the LORD for his unfailing love and his wonderful deeds for men. Let them exalt him in the assembly of the people and praise in the council of the elders.” (Psalm 107: 31-32)
Exalt him in the assembly of the people…tell your story…tell of the wonders, big and small, that God has done for you. Has anyone shared their story of blessings with you? How did their praise make you feel? Did you feel hope for yourself and your situation, even in the midst of what you were going through? Hold on to that hope and think of how your story can help someone else.
“One generation will commend your works to another; they will tell of your mighty acts. They will speak of the glorious splendor of your majesty, and I will meditate on your wonderful works. They will tell of the power of your awesome works, and I will proclaim your great deeds. They will celebrate your abundant goodness and joyfully sing of your righteousness.” (Psalm 145: 4-7 emphasis mine)
Back to the question of how do we tell others about our blessings and the success of our trails without sounding like we are bragging. Easy, like David wrote in the Psalm: we tell of HIS triumphs, HIS glories, HIS victories, HIS works, HIS blessings. Not what I did, but what HE did. ‘Cause let’s be honest here, we cannot do this life without him. I cannot type these words without him!
When we point to Christ, he gets all of the glory of our successes and blessings. When we show others that we truly know where the gifts of our life come from they are learning of Christ’s faithfulness to those who trust in him and they too can seek out the blessings he gives them.
“Whatever you have learned of received or heard from me, or seen in me – put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.” (Philippians 4:9)
“And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable men who will also be qualified to teach others.” (2 Timothy 2:2)
These two verses show that by us sharing our stories, our blessings, we are teaching others where our strength and hope come from. Not ourselves, not by our own doing. Not on our own, but with Christ. We are not bragging, we are giving glory to God! We are letting others share in his glory!
My prayer for you is that through the good and the bad times in your life, you will see God through it all. May you seek the blessings He has given you. May you find the courage to share with others the amazing, wonderful things God has done for you so they too will seek his blessings and share their stories. I pray that you allow God to shower you with love and peace.
See you on the front porch.