To be blessed is to have a share in the glory of God’s grace. 

Most people talk of being blessed with reference to good health, family, wealth, happiness, status, and material goods.

But if we look to the Bible, we can see that being blessed means something different entirely — and those who are truly blessed aren’t the ones you might expect.

Matthew 5:5-12 lists those who are blessed, which includes the meek, the righteous, the merciful, the pure in heart, the peacemakers, and the persecuted. 

From this, we can understand that a blessing isn’t a simple stroke of good fortune but rather a state of being that exemplifies Christianity’s compassionate principles. 

In this sense, you’re already blessed if you’re forgiving, kind, just, joyful, and peaceful. 

And by inhabiting a kindly Christian nature, you open yourself up to more spiritual blessings, like forgiveness of sins, the Holy Spirit, the power to do God’s will, and ultimately, salvation — the greatest blessing that will bring you to heavenly places.

We understand from Matthew the kind of characteristics that beget blessings from the Almighty. 

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But, beyond living your life as a good Christian, what are the ways in which you can open yourself up to receive an abundance of His grace?

Bible study reveals more important instructions from the Lord on how to receive God’s blessings. 

Across the four canonical gospels and beyond in the New Testament, we’re encouraged to surrender ourselves to the Lord Jesus Christ. 

This means: 

• Understanding the teachings of Christ 
• Listening to the word of God 
• Offering devotionals 
• Giving as generously as we receive 
• Asking God Himself for blessings 
• Maintaining your faith in the Lord God throughout your life. 

Another less-considered practice is to simply look out for existing blessings in places you might not usually appreciate. 

Let’s take a look at some relevant Bible verses to understand more about receiving God’s blessings.

Ephesians 1:3-4

“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. For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight.”

The opening line of Ephesians reminds us that, in reality, we’re already blessed. Earth’s creation and our redemption is a blessing of the Lord, without whom we wouldn’t be here. 

Remember to be grateful for our existence. 

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2 Corinthians 9:8-10

“And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you’ll abound in every good work. As it is written: ‘They have freely scattered their gifts to the poor; their righteousness endures forever.’”

This Corinthians verse is a sobering reminder of God’s power and ability in blessing His creations. If you feel you aren’t receiving enough of God’s gifts, ask yourself, are you being righteous? In what ways can you bring yourself closer to Christian ideals?

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Deuteronomy 28

“If you fully obey the Lord your God and carefully follow all his commands I give you today, the Lord your God will set you high above all the nations on earth. All these blessings will come on you and accompany you if you obey the Lord your God.”

The commandments of the Lord aren’t abstract rules scattered across the pages of the Bible. They’re clearly stated in Exodus and Deuteronomy of the Hebrew Bible in the form of the Ten Commandments. 

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We recommend revisiting the commandments regularly and considering the ways in which you might be in violation of them. 

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Psalm 34

“I will bless the Lord at all times: his praise shall continually be in my mouth.”

If you think that carrying the image of Christ in our hearts and minds at all times is too much, we urge you to consider the suffering he endured so our sins could be forgiven. He took to the cross with us in his mind, and we’re here as a result. 

We must commemorate his sacrifice as generously and abundantly as we can. 

Philippians 4:19 states, “God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.”

God can provide to you all your needs and wants. His omnipotence and giving nature knows no limits, so you should never fear that what you have is all you'll ever get. 

But to open oneself up to God’s blessings requires sturdy faith and commitment to the principles of Christianity. 
Remember to pray, be of a kind and compassionate nature, give generously, and be grateful. That gratitude should be not only for your mere existence but also to God and the Lord Jesus Christ. 

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To always stay connected to God’s word and the power of the Holy Spirit, download the Pray.com app in the iOS App Store or on Google Play. 

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