Contributed by Adeline Ting • Sep 23, 2025
I have forever understood the Beatitudes as Blessings. When I first read them a few years ago, I found it a comforting reminder that Jesus values humility, compassion and righteousness, amidst the chaos in the world. Somehow, knowing that Jesus’s values are different from the world gave me hope and peace. Reading the Beatitudes again after a while, I could feel that Jesus is reigniting a spark in me. He reminded me of what it really means to be living a blessed life. This challenges me to re-examine my life and my heart. While the world celebrates wealth, strength, comfort, status and achievements, Jesus blesses those with contrasting traits. Jesus blesses the poor in spirit, the mourning, the meek, the righteous, the merciful, the pure in heart, the peacemakers, and the persecuted. It made me recalibrate my focus on where I place my trust, and what I seek in life.
I confess that I often try to rely on my own strength, forgetting that the true blessing comes when I recognize that I am poor in spirit and dependent on God. Living in the world today also grieves my heart, as the hurting world causes me to mourn over the brokenness of people. At times, I celebrate the world’s idea of success, where pride seeps in. Sometimes I find myself thirsting for things that leave me empty as I sidelined God’s call for righteousness. There were times too that I felt that “get even” is the way to go, especially when driving on a bad traffic day! I must confess, on challenging days, purity is far from my heart, and I become less of a peacemaker and feel dejected in following Christ.
Yet, my hope is found in the Beatitudes. The Lord says, “Blessed are the poor in spirit.” Therefore Lord, teach me to depend wholly on You for Your grace is sufficient, and Your power is made perfect in weaknesses. The Lord says too that “Blessed are those who mourn.” As such, I find solace and comfort in Your promises and let You meet me in my mourning. The Lord reminds me too that “Blessed are the meek.” And so I pray that Lord, give me a humble heart that trusts in Your strength and not my strength and free me from the world’s idea of success. And the Lord reminds too that “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness.” I ask the Lord, that I may hunger for what pleases You rather than what pleases the world. The Lord says too that “Blessed are the merciful.” Therefore, shape me into a person that is always prepared to be forgiving and compassionate, even to those who may not deserve it. And as I am reminded that “Blessed are the pure in heart”, I pray I may have a changed heart that truly seeks You, so I may see You more clearly in my life. And when times are trying, I am reminded that “Blessed are the peacemakers.” Therefore Lord, give me wisdom and patience to learn how to bring reconciliation to those around me. And last but not least, the Lord says “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake.” Lord, I pray that You strengthen my faith and let me walk closely with You to make a difference for the righteous sake of Your people.
In short, I am reminded that the Beatitudes are Blessings of a Kingdom Life. They are God’s standards to experience a fulfilling Kingdom Life. It is not a life free of pain and challenges, but it is a fulfilling journey towards joy, hope and abundant blessings. And one person has lived this Kingdom Life perfectly, Jesus.
And so Lord, thank you for this reminder. I choose to trust in You. Your blessings are eternal and richer than anything else in the world. Teach me, and all those who seek, to depend wholly on Your grace.