Ripples

So then, as occasion and opportunity open up to us, let us do good [morally] to all people [not only being useful or profitable to them, but also doing what is for their spiritual good and advantage]. Be mindful to be a blessing, especially to those of the household of faith [those who belong to God's family with you, the believers]. Galatians 6:10 AMP

I have heard this week so many times “We were blessed” in the aftermath of Hurricane Irene.  Even though there was damage and lives lost due to this storm, most people expected it to be much worse. I am fully persuaded Hurricane Irene had less of a blow in our area due to prayer.  Many were blessed, fortunate and benefited from the prayers of others during this storm.  I have thought a lot about blessings and being blessed over the past several months; this week has brought those thoughts back to the forefront of my mind.  In Galatians 6:10 we read “Be mindful to be a blessing…” When we take a look at the meaning of a couple words in this scripture we find mindful means to be attentive, aware, and thoughtful. Blessing/blessed is defined as supremely favored, fortunate, blissfully happy or content.  Some synonyms for blessed include: Spiritual, exalted, honor, invoke benefits, invoke happiness, favor, give, provide, anoint, pray for and praise, according to Dictionary.com.  We are expected to be aware of opportunities to exalt, favor, honor and provide for others.

Blessings are like the ripples produced when a rock is thrown into a pond.  The ripples expand far out from the impact of the rock. When we pray for the lost it creates this “ripple” blessing effect. We have no idea how many people will be blessed from just one person meeting Jesus.  One of our tenants told me today that because he was invited to church at the beginning of the year, that not only is he sober and serving the Lord, but his Father is also sober and serving the Lord – the ripple effect! One person’s blessing has an exponential effect.  If one person blesses two people, those two people will bless four people, and those four people will bless eight people and so on.

Be bold and creative in blessing others. It doesn’t require allot of money, you can be a blessing and make others feel favored and honored from a small gesture. If you have extra veggies from your garden, give them to your neighbor. Clean out your closets and give away what you are no longer using. Smile and thank the cashier; give her a word of encouragement. Text someone today just to let them know you were praying for them and thinking of them. Let someone with less items or with a cranky child go in front of you in the line at the grocery store.  Offer to take someone’s cart back to the cart corral.  The ways to bless others are endless.  We also benefit from being a blessing; it takes our focus off of ourselves, our problems and our situations. You will find that your peace and joy will increase in your life as you increase blessing others. “A generous man will himself be blessed, for he shares his food with the poor.” Proverbs 22:9.

During those times when you don’t feel so blessed remember, “Blessed is the man whose sin the Lord will never count against him” Romans 4:8. The cry of my heart is to be a blessing.  I know I fall short, but Praise God every day I start anew and I am able to be a blessing because I am blessed. Cast a stone in the pond and see how far the decision to be a blessing reaches.


Michelle Odom
Michelle is an Ordained Minister through United Christian Fellowship and co-founder with her husband, John, of MJ Ministries, a “Practical Evangelism” ministry expressing the Gospel through action. MJ Ministries is dedicated to revealing God’s love through the practice of hospitality using our God given gifts, talents and resources. We are challenged to Engage others in the pursuit of Jesus, Encourage others to realize their potential in Jesus, and Empower others to have influence for Jesus. “Mission Possible”  Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but not with God; all things are possible with God” Mark 10:27