I am afraid that we have allowed materialism to define who we are as people. We wake up in the morning; go to work for countless hours and keep our children enrolled in after school programs. Many times, we have someone else pick them up from the after school because we are too busy working; working hard so we be able to buy more things. We keep our children busy with computers in their own rooms. We give them cell phones, buy them iPods and the latest technological toy and by the time we make it home we are so exhausted that we can’t even spend five minutes of quality time with our family.

Everybody is busy in their own little world. Many Americans even bring their jobs home with unfinished tasks during work hours or in their conversations as they seem unable to disconnect from work. It’s all about work, work, work and then we wonder why, even as we have the nice house and the nice car and the nice cloths, etc. we are still empty inside. We have made having things our number one idol; after all, that is what capitalism is all about; right?

Blessings are all around us; our nation is indeed, a blessed nation; no doubt about that. However, until we are emotionally blessed, what we have or don’t have has no meaning or value. How can one explain a person with a good personality, talented, with great fame, having all that money can buy yet, still finds him or herself in a state of depression, anger, frustration and great misery?  What we have or don’t have does not indicate how blessed we are; it’s how we feel emotionally that indicates our blessing. Until we can understand that the greatest blessing we have is to have access to a personal relationship with our Lord Jesus Christ, everything else is pointless.

I remember a long season in my life when I exercised, took good care of myself physically, had a good job, worked hard, etc. but when it came down to my emotional condition, I was feeling miserable. It did not matter what I had or even my physical condition; the cry of my heart was for God to give me joy and to give me peace. I have indeed, seen people that are financially poor, but emotionally rich as they walk around with great joy, great peace and a grateful heart. InPsalm 1:1-2David gives us the keys to master the art of being blessed:

“Blessed is the man

That walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly,

Nor standeth in the way of sinners,

Nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.

But his delight is in the law of the Lord;

And in his law doth he meditate day and night.”

         Let’s start by defining the word “blessed”; this word literally means “To be happy.” If you are happy, no matter what you have or do not have, you are blessed. Happiness comes when God pours out His favor upon us. The direct result of that kind of relationship with God will keep us in a state of happiness; that is the happiness that remains. How then can we master this art of being blessed or happy?

1.    We must stop getting our advice for life from the secular world:

“Blessed is the man

That walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly…”

         The world has its own ideas, values and ways of doing things. We must stay away from them. Many of us know what it is to walk around miserably directly because we did things according to the world. Whatever God states as wrong is wrong. The ungodly are ready with their demonic counsel. We must, no matter how unpopular it may be, stay away from their ways if we want to keep the holy state of being blessed.

2.    We must guard our fellowship:

“…Nor standeth in the way of sinners,

Nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful…”

         Here we see how the Bible places the sinner and the scornful in the same category. A good synonym for “scornful” is disrespectful. I know that in today’s politically correct society and in a church that places everything that challenges our ways under the umbrella of judging, it is hard to express what I am about to express. However, I will express it anyway. Beloved, we have no business fellowshipping with the lost. Our only relationship with them is based on our ministering to them in whatever way possible that is allowed by the Lord. The Bible asked us in 2 Corinthians 6:14“…For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness?” I don’t care what a Biblical uninformed Evangelist is saying on TV or in our local pulpits; we are not called to be friends with the world. The Bible also tells us in James 4:4 “You adulterous people, don’t you know that friendship with the world is hatred toward God? Anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God.” Many times, when we find ourselves in sin, we turn our backs on God’s people and we run after the world so that we can find approval and acceptance. The problem, or solution, is that no matter what the world says, what God says is the only truth. In the process, we quickly see our blessing escaping us and misery taking residence. Have you ever been there? I have!

3.    We must find pleasure in the study of God’s Word:

“..But his delight is in the law of the Lord;

And in his law doth he meditate day and night.”

I know this is a long old song; but it is true. When we stay focuses on the reading of God’s Word, it is easier to experience God’s peace and joy. God’s Word is food for our soul. “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.” (Mathew 4:4) Staying in the Word is life! I noticed that with days apart from the bible, the feeling of dryness comes in my soul as joy escapes me.

4.    We must guard our meditation:

“…And in his law doth he meditate day and night.”

         When we talk about meditation, we are talking about our deep thoughts and about those things that we are constantly thinking about. No one knows what is deep inside your mind but you and God. If that meditation is not on God’s Word, our meditation is out of line. For more information on meditation please read the series, “.https://angelcasiano.com/2010/10/18/the-revolutionary-prayer-life-part-5/

When we purposely combine these four elements, we are then on our way to master the art of being blessed. It is then that the Bible tells us:

“He shall be like a tree
    Planted by the rivers of water,
    That brings forth its fruit in its season,
    Whose leaf also shall not wither;
And whatever he does shall prosper.”