Blessing, Blessing, Blessing! Several messages have been preached on this word. Many Christian conferences and seminars are given themes such as “Anointing for blessing, breakthrough into blessing, blessing galore, how to become a blessing” etc.
In today’s world the word “blessing” has to be used by preachers and ministers in order to get the attention of their congregation.
In this article, I will like us to view the word “blessing” from a different perspective other than the popular one. I see a lot of people, and sadly Christians, lay undue emphasis on physical and materials things such as exotic cars, properties, good career, marriage, children, good jobs, fanciful clothes, etc when talking about blessing. As good and beautiful as these things are, in themselves they do not necessarily constitute God’s blessings. Those who do not believe in our God have them and also enjoy them in abundance.

Is it right for us to say that physical possessions are the same as God’s blessings?  Are you not blessed because you haven’t got all these things? Is it right to conclude that you are not blessed because you are not married? (if so, then Paul was not a blessed man). Are you not blessed because you haven’t got a child yet? Does it mean you are not blessed because others are driving their cars and you are still jumping from one bus to another? Am I not blessed because I am not able to study the course of my choice? Does it mean you are not blessed because… etc? (The list is endless)

Let us at this junction look at the meaning of blessing. According to the dictionary, the literally meaning of being blessed is to be consecrated, holy and sanctified. To be divinely or supremely favoured fortunate. To be blissfully happy or contented.

For the benefit of this study, allow me to say that the way to be divinely favoured is by obeying God and living a life of complete submission and reverence unto Him(except of course in the cases where God in His sovereignty chooses to favour one regardless of such a person’s stand with Him e.g. Abram).
It sounds too simple to be true, but friend that is what it is to be blessed. A blessed man is a man who loves God and pleases Him. Either he’s got chains of properties or not, he is blessed. A blessed woman is a woman who lives in total submission to her maker, either she is married or not, has children or not, has lots of money in her account or not. She is blessed because she is favoured by God!

We all talk about Abraham and desire his kind of blessing. Little do we know that an action was taken to attract the blessing. The book of Genesis chapter 12 vs 1-4 reads:

1 The LORD had said to Abram, "Leave your country, your people and your father's household and go to the land I will show you.
 2 "I will make you into a great nation
       and I will bless you;
       I will make your name great,
       and you will be a blessing.
 3 I will bless those who bless you,
       and whoever curses you I will curse;
       and all peoples on earth
       will be blessed through you."
 4 So Abram left, as the LORD had told him…..(NIV)

Abraham was blessed simply because he obeyed God and willingly submitted to His instructions. The physical manifestations of the blessings did not come until many years later. But friend, even though Abraham still remained barren after the pronouncement of blessing had been pronounced on him by God, though for a time he lived like a nobody in a foreign land, that does not deny the fact and truth that HE WAS BLESSED!

Let us also take a look at this familiar scripture. Psalm 1

1 Blessed is the man
       who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked
       or stand in the way of sinners
       or sit in the seat of mockers.
 2 But his delight is in the law of the LORD,
       and on his law he meditates day and night.
 3 He is like a tree planted by streams of water,
       which yields its fruit in season
       and whose leaf does not wither.
       Whatever he does prospers.
 4 Not so the wicked!
       They are like chaff
       that the wind blows away.
 5 Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment,
       nor sinners in the assembly of the righteous.
 6 For the LORD watches over the way of the righteous,
       but the way of the wicked will perish. (NIV)

Also Matthew chapter 5

Now when he saw the crowds, he went up on a mountainside and sat down. His disciples came to him, and he began to teach them saying:
"Blessed are the poor in spirit,
      for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
 Blessed are those who mourn,
      for they will be comforted.
 Blessed are the meek,
      for they will inherit the earth.
 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,
      for they will be filled.
 Blessed are the merciful,
      for they will be shown mercy.
 Blessed are the pure in heart,
      for they will see God.
 Blessed are the peacemakers,
      for they will be called sons of God.
 Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness,
      for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
"Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. (NIV)

Dear reader, do you identify yourself with any of the above scripture?
Do you walk not in the counsel of the wicked? If you answered yes, then you are blessed
Do you stand not in the way of sinners? Do you sit not in sit of mockers?
Do you delight in the law of the lord?
Do you meditate on His law day and night?
Are you poor in spirit/Do you acknowledge your need for God?
Do you mourn?
Are you meek?
Do you hunger and thirst for righteousness?
Are you merciful?
Are you pure in heart? If
Are you persecuted for righteousness sake?
Do people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of God?

Dear reader, if you answered YES to the above questions, rejoice greatly and be glad, for far beyond what you can see, your present status and situation, you are already been declared blessed by God.
God’s favour has got nothing to do with what you have or do not have. For the worth of a man does not consist in what he possesses but in who he is. For what we see are temporal but what we do not see are eternal. Do not let us be too mindful of the minor issues of life and forget the essence of our existence, for pleasing the master is what really matters!
And if you answered NO to the questions, why not surrender ALL to Jesus. Let Him pattern your life for His glory so you can live a meaningful life of worship and submission to Him. To be blessed of God is to be favoured by Him. When He favours you, you are guaranteed eternal life and you can be sure that He will take care of your needs here on earth.