Pause

Then the father said to him, "Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours. But we had to celebrate and rejoice, because this brother of yours was dead and has come to life; he was lost and has been found.'" (Luke 15:31-32)

God’s blessing is ours as a gift of grace. Yet too often we feel too busy or unworthy to enjoy it.

So come whether you feel lost or found, prodigal or faithful today. Pause, abide, and refresh in the way to blessing.

Listen

When Jesus saw the crowds, he went up the mountain; and after he sat down, his disciples came to him. Then he began to speak, and taught them, saying: "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven."

Matthew 5:1-3

Think

Instead of sitting alphabetically in desks, secretly passing notes, watching PowerPoints, or smelling the lingering scent of #2 pencils, you’re on a mountain and you’re sitting next to Jesus today.

I wonder how the disciples felt to be those students. Maybe it felt pretty epic, since they were called by Jesus. Would you feel worthy to be that close to God? Or unprepared like before a big test?

In these radical “blessed be’s,” we find room for ourselves in God’s classroom. It turns out the kingdom of heaven, all the goodness, mercy, and love of God, belongs not to the perfectly pious, but to those who feel they are lacking in spiritual worth — the poor in spirit. No matter what you’ve done, how often you’ve failed, what you question, or just how awful the world may make you feel about yourself, God wants to bless you.

Maybe today’s real test is to remember that God appreciates our spiritual honesty and chooses us to rest and delight in God’s blessing.

Molly Logan

Pray

God of grace, sometimes I feel pretty icky about myself. Yet you claim me as your beloved. You invite me to be a disciple. You offer me your kingdom of heaven — the fullness of your way of blessing — just as I am, with my doubts, my mistakes, and your grace. I am blessed. Amen.

Go

We’re blessed to be a blessing.

Finally, beloved, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is pleasing, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence and if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. Keep on doing the things that you have learned and received and heard and seen, and the God of peace will be with you. (Philippians 4:8-9)