If you’ve been in LifeSpring long enough, you may be familiar with the saying “Blessed to be a Blessing.” At LifeSpring we believe that we are blessed to be a blessing. In other words, we have been blessed by God, so much so, that we can bless others and be a blessing to them.
The Lord reminded me that in order to be a blessing to others we must first recognize that we ourselves are blessed. Conceptually this makes total sense, and may even be self explanatory, but the reality of recognizing that you are blessed may be difficult at times.
If you’ve ever been through a “valley” or “wilderness” season in life, viewing yourself as one that is blessed is most likely far from your natural train of thought. Perhaps this is why God tells His people time and time again in the Bible to remember. Remember His commandments, remember His decree and regulations, remember what He did for you, and remember who He is, etc. It is in remembering who we are that allows us to live out who we are, regardless of the situation, circumstance, or even season.
Gratitude is one of the practices that reminds us of how blessed we really are. If gratitude is not a practice in your life, may I recommend implementing it in your daily routine. It helps cultivate your blessings. Taking the time to pinpoint how God has blessed you in big ways and small can really shift your perspective.
Another way to remember that you are blessed is through the sharing of life experiences. We may not realize we’re blessed until we come across someone who would do anything to have what you have or be where you are. It is in contrasting our world with someone else’s that we realize how privileged and blessed we really are.
Let me give you an example. Over 10+ years ago, our now Kingdom Kids deacon Denise went on a mission trip to Uganda. When she came back she shared about her experience and what she took away from the trip. She spoke about how the people in the villages didn’t have running water and she felt convicted because she would run the tap in the bathroom sink without thinking much about it. She realized that she was “wasting” water by keeping the tap on when it didn’t necessarily need to be but more importantly she had the privilege of having that option to have a tap on and off at her convenience.
This sharing struck a cord in me because I was doing the exact same thing in my home. Even worse, I was living with my parents at the time so I didn’t even pay for the hydro bill. In hearing Denise’s sharing, I was reminded of how blessed I am and how much water I probably waste running the tap over my hand while I brush my teeth (this might be just me). To be honest, I still do it sometimes, but when I do, I’m always convicted by Denise’s testimony.
Whether it’s from a personal inventory of your blessings or a shift in perspective through hearing people’s experiences, may we be a church that remembers how blessed we really are, so that we can be a blessing to others.
Father, I thank you for all the blessings you have given your people. The fact that you have woken us up this morning is more than enough to be grateful for in our lives. You are the source and sustainer of all that is good. May we continue to trust in you with our lives and be blessed to be a blessing to the world. In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen!