Blessed- more than happiness

The word blessed is tossed about so frequently these days with a careless attitude.

"Have a blessed day."
"We're so blessed."

You hear them everywhere-the cashier at the grocery store, the get-well card from the neighbor, the good-bye hug from a friend.
While these phrases and uses are accurate, they're used without thought.

So, what does it mean to be blessed? Most would describe it as happy. But this adjective is simply an understatement. Some say it means joyful...and it does, to an extent. But the Greek word eulogeo implies to be filled with a joy that rises above our circumstances.

Consider this:

"Blessed are the poor in spirit [humble]...
Blessed are they that mourn...
Blessed are the meek...
Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness...
Blessed are the merciful...
Blessed are the pure in heart...
Blessed are the peacemakers...
Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake...
Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you..."
Matthew 5:3-11 

None of these sound great or easy, and yet we are  filled with joy above our circumstances.

That is blessed.

We are even told the blessings that are given to each of the qualities above...

"...Their's is the kingdom of heaven...
they shall be comforted...
they shall inherit the [new] earth...
they shall be filled...
they shall obtain mercy...
they shall see God...
they shall be called the children of God...
their's is the kingdom of heaven..."
Matthew 5:3-11

The first word in the book of Psalms is, you guessed it, 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."

Also look at Psalm 32:1, 2

"Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered.
Blessed is the man unto whomthe Lord imputeth not iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no guile."

We whose sins are covered and in whom is no guile (which is all the saved), are blessed. No matter what happens around us, we will have joy! Not just happiness (an emotion), but JOY (a decision).

Psalm 119 tells us of blessedness three times:

"Blessed are the undefiled in the way,      who walk in the law of the Lord.Blessed are they that keep his testimonies,      and that seek him with the whole heart.Blessed art thou, O Lord: teach me thy statutes."Psalm 119:1, 2, 12

Hear what John Wesley had to say about Blessed Joy:

"Our Lord has purchased
          Joy, as well as Righteousness, for us."

 In a song by Steven Curtis Chapman, titled "Live Out Loud", verse two says:

Picture this:
Try to keep a bird from singing
After it's soared up in the sky.
Give the sun a cloudless day,
And tell it not to shine.
Think about this:
If we really have been given
The gift of life that will never end-
And if we're filled with living hope,
We're gonna overflow,
And if God's love is burning in our hearts,
Ya know we're gonna glow.
There's just no way to keep it in!

 How true! If you really are walking in light (I John 1:5-7) then you will be filled with joy unspeakable.

And that's blessed.

So go on...shout: Jesus is great!
*Caution: people may ask you why you're so happy!*
In conclusion:

"And these things write we unto you, that your joy may be full."I John 1:4