Blessed
A devotional by Colleen C. Howard
“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ.”—Ephesians 1:3 (NIV)
There’s a decorative plate on an easel in my kitchen. Since the plate is square, it’s always tilted to the side. No matter how often I straighten it, the plate keeps slipping as if determined to remain off kilter. Either that or the plate has a serious vendetta against my sense of tidiness.
This dish has always been one of my favorites. The word “Blessed” takes center stage with its beautiful, rich color palette. Each day, I straighten the plate, and each day it tilts, but I continue to repeat my actions. There’s a saying, “Insanity is doing the same thing repeatedly and expecting a different result.” Apparently, I’m the poster child for this quote.
A few days ago, instead of straightening the plate, my eyes were drawn to the word blessed. That one slight shift caused my mind to take an unexpected turn. I stood there, staring at the plate. The words in Ephesians 1:3 struck me and I realized I have been blessed by God. I’m stubborn, tenacious and sometimes controlling, but in His mercy, He bestows blessings on me.
According to an article about what it means to be blessed, The Master’s University says being blessed means having inner peace, bliss, happiness, and an inward joy not produced by nor affected by circumstance. It’s a state of unshakeable well-being that comes from knowing God.
People who believe in God need to remember that they are blessed by Him. God has positioned us for a time such as this. We are blessed to reside in our imperfect bodies and live our imperfect lives—off kilter, off center, full of flaws, yet flawless in the eyes of our Savior (Jesus Christ). So, why is it difficult to remember that our identity is in Christ alone?
God says we are His children, overcomers and the apple of His eye. It’s our imperfections that make us genuine, and vulnerable. These are the qualities that make us approachable, which allows us to share the Good News of Jesus Christ.
For a long time I was unsure of how to share Christ with others until God showed me that sharing is natural when it’s based on relationship. When I share Christ with a co-worker, friend, or family member, I can begin from a place of mutual understanding. It’s comfortable to share God’s truth when you have history of sharing meaningful conversations.
Several years ago, I shared the Good News of the Gospel of Jesus Christ with a dear friend who is also a co-worker. She’d been hurt by a church in the past and never went back. We had several conversations about God and how He has a plan and a purpose for her. Not too long after that she sent me a heartfelt text message for bringing her back to church and re-introducing Christ into her life. This is a beautiful blessing and a memory that I’ll treasure forever.
Today, may we embrace the love of the Good Shepherd, the Mighty One who sets us free. May His daily grace flood our hearts so we can focus on the many blessings He bestows on us.
Let’s Pray:
Dear Lord,
We are grateful for your love, mercy, and the blessings you bestow upon us. Send your Holy Spirit to help us be consistent in setting aside time to reflect on your goodness and the power of your presence. Thank You for each new day and help us to be aware of the opportunities to share the Gospel with others. In Jesus’s name I pray. Amen.
Song of Reflection #1: “Counting My Blessings” by Seph Schlueter. Listen to it here.
Song of Reflection #2: “Great is Your Mercy” by Donnie McClurkin. Listen to it here.
Song of Reflection #3: “I'm So Blessed” by CAIN. Listen to it here.
Song of Reflection #4: “In Christ Alone” by Natashia Midori. Listen to it here.
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Author Bio:
Colleen C. Howard is a Jesus follower, wife, mom, mimi, educator and author.
She lives with her husband in the beautiful Arizona desert where the sunsets are spectacular, the summers are hot, and the winters are a little slice of heaven. Her two adult children and their families live nearby. She considers it a joy to spend time with her family members!
She is a lifelong educator and co-founder of an educational professional development business. After spending her professional life in education, Colleen retired as the STEM Specialist for a large public school district. As she approached the end of that season, God placed a strong desire in Colleen’s heart to shine a light on God’s presence throughout ordinary days and encourage women in their faith-walk with Jesus Christ.
When asked what makes her faith walk real, Colleen replied, “It isn’t just one thing, but a million little things. Although some days bring trials and others bring joy, it’s never just another day.” She says when you give your heart to Jesus, each new day is another opportunity to walk hand-in-hand with Him and begin to know the heart of God. As you become more aware of His presence, stop, take a breath, and watch what God will do.
Colleen holds a Bachelor of Arts in Education from Arizona State University and a Masters in Educational Leadership from Northern Arizona University.
She has been published online via these websites: Inkspirations, Her View From Home, and Inside Out Worldwide.
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Connect with Colleen:
Website: https://www.authorcolleenchoward.com/
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