Blessed Are The Poor In Spirit

Sometimes happiness doesn’t look like what you think it does.

Happiness begins when you realize how poor you really are.

Question: How do you see yourself? Are you a basically good person? Do you ever make mistake? 

Then he began to teach them, saying: “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for the kingdom of heaven is theirs. Matthew 5:2-3

Blessed = "Makarios" - contented, full, happy

Poor = "Ptokos" - destitute, spiritually poor, either in a good sense (humble) or bad where poor means hunger, suffering, painful lacking.

My hand made all these things, and so they all came into being. This is the Lord’s declaration. I will look favorably on this kind of person: one who is humble, submissive in spirit, and trembles at my word. Isaiah 66:2

Question: How would you describe what it means to be poor in spirit? How would you describe your own state of spirituality? Are you rich… or poor? 

Poor to be Happy

1. Be Aware.

The poor in Spirit see themselves in the light of God’s presence.

When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at Jesus’s knees and said, “Go away from me, because I’m a sinful man, Lord!” Luke 5:8

2. Be Humble.

Humility is freedom from pride or arrogance : the quality or state of being humble. -Merriam Webster

He leads the humble in what is right and teaches them his way. 
Psalms 25:9

3. Be Teachable

The more you learn and grow, 
the more you know just how bad off you are!

4. Be Repentant

Tear your hearts, not just your clothes, and return to the Lord your God. For he is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger, abounding in faithful love,… Joel 2:13

Happiness begins when you realize how poor you really are.

#Reflection/Prayer
God, I know that without you, I am spiritually poor. 
Fill me and lead me so I may be blessed, and a blessing to others.