Recently I haven't been able to leave the beatitudes alone. Every time I get into the Word that's where I want to go. I think it's a combination of knowing that I haven't quite gotten it yet and because the beatitudes are making a lot of sense out of the transition I have been in recently.

Jesus opened up His message with these bullet points. Since the word beatitudes isn't a commonly used word in today's culture, I would venture out to say that guiding principles might be a similar way of describing them?

His first one is this, "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven."

I really don't get it. Jesus also said, "from you will flow rivers of living water." (John 7:38) Peter said, "you have everything you need for life and godliness." (2 Peter 1:3) I could name probably 50 more verses that address the abundance we have in Christ.

This has been confusing to me. Is it some sort of humbleness that we are blessed for? I want to understand since this is one of Jesus' guiding principles.

As I was wrestling between the seeming contradiction, I heard God's voice saying, "What are you complaining about? If you are poor in spirit, you win. If you are strong in spirit, you also win. You can't lose!"

If you are discouraged, poor, feeling defeated, or if you are on top of the world, you win! God is blessing you. He is for you. It is a sobering thing to know that who you are is His work, not yours!