“God blesses you when people mock you and persecute you and lie about you and say all sorts of evil things against you because you are my followers. Be happy about it! Be very glad! For a great reward awaits you in heaven. And remember, the ancient prophets were persecuted in the same way.
Matthew 5:11-12

Dear God, it’s important that the context of these two verses are the beatitudes. Jesus had just said that the poor, the mourning, the hungry for justice, the humble, the merciful, the pure of heart, the peace makers and the persecuted are all blessed. But here’s a question. What does it mean when you “bless” us? What does that blessing look like?

I don’t have a really great answer except that maybe it all goes back to the fruits of the spirit. The more I think about them (love, joy, peace, patience, gentleness, faithfulness, goodness, kindness, and self control), there are two that are different that the others. I’ve long pointed to peace as a litmus test for how I’m doing, but joy is a lot like it. All of the others are things that I can will myself into action on. I can will myself to love, be patient, be faithful, etc. I can’t, however, will myself to joy and/or peace. Those are things that grow from within and I think those are the things that you give to us in your blessing. When we are mourning, you are there. When we are persecuted, you are there. When we are poor, you are there.

Holy Spirit, be at home in me so that the Father might live and reach others through me. Jesus, thank you for loving me and for your sacrifice. I confess that I still don’t appreciate you or understand what you did for me as I should. And Father, I adore you. Please let your blessing be on me so that your kingdom will come and your will will be done on earth as it is in heaven through my life.

In Jesus’s name I pray,

Amen