While my husband and I enjoy the blessed company of old friends this week, I hope you enjoy this collection of blessing-quotes. Better yet, I pray their truths expand your hope and joy!
Truth #1: God’s promised blessings are vast and far-reaching.
When the Old Testament priests blessed God’s people, they raised their arms and held their hands as far apart as possible . . .It was a demonstration. God’s promised blessings are so big, so unimaginable that the priest stretched himself out as far as he could stretch . . .to show the generous heart of our loving Father.
Jane Fryar, Be Blessed, 12-13
Truth #2: Focus increases blessing.
The more I focus on my blessings, the more blessings I notice, and the more blessings I notice, the more blessings I experience.
Unknown
Truth #3: Waiting enhances the blessing.
If God waits longer than you could wish, it is only to make the blessing doubly precious.
Andrew Murray, Waiting on God
Truth #4: Trouble often produces blessing.
God will not permit any troubles to come upon us, unless he has a specific plan by which great blessing can come out of the difficulty.
Peter Marshall
Truth #5: Loss often produces blessing.
When we lose one blessing, another is often most unexpectedly given in its place.
C. S. Lewis
Truth #6: God’s best blessings aren’t material; they’re spiritual.
This Divine Lord desires only that He may rest in thy soul, and may form therein a rich throne of peace, that within thine own heart, by means of internal recollection, and with His heavenly grace thou mayest find silence in the tumult, solitude in company, light in darkness, forgetfulness in injuries, vigor in despondency, courage in alarms, resistance in temptation, peace in war, and quiet in tribulation.
Molinos
Truth #7: Blessings are best turned to praise.
Whenever you get a blessing from God, give it back to Him as a love gift. Take time to meditate before God and offer the blessing back to Him in a deliberate act of worship. If you hoard a thing for yourself, it will turn into spiritual dry rot, as the manna did when it was hoarded. God will never let you hold a spiritual thing for yourself; it has to be given back to Him that He may make it a blessing to others.
Oswald Chambers, My Utmost for His Highest, 6.
Which quote was most meaningful to you? Please tell us about it in the comment section below!
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Thanks for sharing this Nancy. Difficult to make a choice, but my favorite quote is 1,2,3,4,5,6 and 7 😊
I’m glad you thought they all deserved first prize, Fred!
“The more I focus on my blessings, the more blessings I notice, and the more blessings I notice, the more blessings I experience.”
This has been unfailingly true for me, Nancy. It’s all about being aware and being ever grateful for God’s innumerable gifts to each of us. May we be alert and quick to see and appreciate each and every blessing He sends our way.
As I’ve been writing in my blog about our recent joyful time with granddaughter, Virginia, I find myself thanking God for this marvelous reunion and fun times we’ve been so fortunate to experience with this endearing child.
Blessings!
That quote sums up well what I’ve experienced too, just as you’ve described it, Martha. Cultivating awareness is well worth the effort! I’m SO glad you enjoyed Virginia every bit as much as you’d hoped!
We have experienced so much of “Blessings are best turned to praise.” It’s so true and then we notice the overlap of so many ways we are blessed, even through the hard times. Thanks Nancy
Amen, Gary. One particularly rough year I counted up the entries in my God Is Faithful journal and discovered more for that twelve months than any year previously, and I’d been keeping that journal for over twenty years. (Actually it’s a looseleaf notebook, so I can keep adding pages.) I’m sure I wouldn’t have noticed the many ways God was blessing if I hadn’t been turning them to praise and recording them!
Truth #6: God’s best blessings aren’t material; they’re spiritual. And as an aside, I feel especially blessed when the Lord leads me to a verse or truth twice in the same day. It makes me feel so connected to Him and also shows me what He wants me to focus on.
Oh, yes! It’s as if God is lovingly placing his hand on our shoulders and saying, “Here, Child. This is my special word for you today.” It DOES make us feel more connected to him, and often includes reassurance, comfort, and /or encouragement–exactly right for the moment. Our God IS an awesome God!
Hi Nancy, I appreciate this blog for a lot of the people you quoted. I did like number 3,4, 5 as I really like Murray, Lewis, Peter Marshall. You would really enjoy the book on Peter Marshall written by his wife. I also liked #6 because I have felt the peace/silence in solitude and in times of extreme illness in Vietnam. I know being in the Bush was not easy but I remember being by myself on a “listening post”. You could not see but you were there to listen and it was a time when I could get out my Bible and read. I had more peace in war than sometime I have in peace time. Thanks again for a wonderful collection of ideas. Never heard of Molinos but great thoughts of comfort in all 7.
I did read A Man Called Peter–years ago. It WAS a good read! What a testimony of the power of God’s peace that you felt it while suffering extreme illness, in a war zone no less. Thank you for sharing, Sam!
I like that God’s best blessings are spiritual. So true and needful for today!
Amen, Vickie. Where would we be without his spiritual blessings of peace, joy, wisdom, contentment, strength, perseverance, hope and more?
These are so good. Love 2,3, and 4!!
So glad you found several to be worthwhile, Alicia!
❤️
Hi Nancy,
I love them all so it’s hard to choose but
Truth #5 jumped out. “Loss often produces blessing.”Then I realized it was perfect to share with a friend who after growth and great move to a larger space lost it to a recent tornado.
They are the words I wanted to say but have learned sometimes it’s best to just listen. But I sure was happy to send this today. Thank you!
“When we lose one blessing, another is often most unexpectedly given in its place.” C. S. Lewis
Oh, I pray this truth comes to fruition in your friend’s life–soon! And in the future may she be able to look back and trace God’s wise and loving hand through this puzzling set of circumstances. Meanwhile I pray that faith and fortitude will carry her above the questions and frustration that surely want front-and-center attention right now!
Nancy, I join you in this beautiful prayer. Thank you!
Deb
Thanks Nancy, That was the book I was talking about. My Aunt recomended it to me. Yes. It was 4 or 5 decades ago for me. Brings back wonderful memories as it does when I read your blogs. Thanks.
Sam
Seems like we reach a certain age and everything reminds us of something else! Glad this blog conjures up wonderful memories for you, Sam.
good morning, Nancy! as soon as I saw your title, I thought of the hymn, ‘Praise God From Whom All Blessings Flow.’
so many good gifts He’s given us … so worthy of our praise.
He’s a good, good Father, isn’t He? Another hymn that comes to mind is “Count Your Blessings.” But you’re probably too young to remember that one!
Hope you enjoy your time with friends and you know how much I love good quotes. I feel blessed reading these!!
We enjoyed a GLORIOUS time with much laughter! So glad these blessing quotes provided just that for you, Jean!
They are all wonderful and encouraging, but 2 speaks to me most. Focus on God only and you can’t miss the blessings he gives you. Too easy for me to get distracted and develop a whine. 😏 thank you for sharing and encouraging!
I don’t want to miss my Father’s blessings either! A gratitude journal has helped me. Even though I don’t write a lot, just reviewing the day with thanksgiving helps me celebrate the blessings that came my way. (I’m sure I still miss some, though!)
God will not permit any troubles to come upon us, unless he has a specific plan by which great blessing can come out of the difficulty.
Peter Marsha. This one is one I am trying to be patient and wait for his plan, with all the illness and life threatening diseases in our family right now, we sometimes tend to lose sight on His big picture. Thank you Nancy for this posting and reminding me of all the little blessings in light of what is going on right now.
David, you and your family face more challenges than most. But your positive attitude, sense of humor, and strong faith in Jesus offer much inspiration to others, including me. I’m delighted this post ministered to you!
Nancy, all the quotes were good. #5 spoke to me most. Lewis points away from the loss and to the Father. It reminded me of a Psalm I read this morning, “Blessed are those who dwell in Your house; they are every praising you.” (84:4)
I like #5 also, Beth. It points me in a positive direction when my thoughts want to take me toward the negative. And thank you for sharing Psalm 84:4 with us. We do experience more joy when we’re praising God!