   What does it mean to be 'poor in spirit'? This phrase has nothing to do with finances or status. It means that we become conscious of our own spiritual emptiness - that without God, we are nothing, we have nothing, and we can do nothing of consequence or eternal benefit. To be poor in spirit means we know that all of our self-righteousness is as filthy rags and all of our self-propelled achievements are short-term and fleeting at best (see Isaiah 64:6). 

   To be poor in spirit means that you know you need God. Why would this cause you to be 'blessed'? Because you are open to receiving God's free gift of salvation and allowing the Holy Spirit to work in your life. You are willing to humble yourself and pray: 'Lord Jesus, I need you. I accept you as my Saviour. I want to yield my life to your will and do things your way to the glory of your name.' If you are 'poor in spirit', you are willing to declare yourself spiritually bankrupt. And in so doing, you lay down your pride of spirit, your pride of will, your pride of intellect and your pride of heart at the feet of Jesus. If you are 'poor in spirit', you open yourself to God's saving mercy and grace. Consequently, you are able to enter God's Kingdom and enjoy all of its benefits and its blessings. 

   'Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven' (Matthew 5:3 NKJV) means you can pray, 'Lord, I acknowledge my total dependence on you.'





— SCRIPTURE —

    'Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven.' Matthew 5:3 NKJV
— SOULFOOD —

    Hos 6-10, Luke 19:41-48, Ps 13, Pro 8:14-16
    

What does it mean to be 'poor in spirit'? This phrase has nothing to do with finances or status. It means that we become conscious of our own spiritual emptiness - that without God, we are nothing, we have nothing, and we can do nothing of consequence or eternal benefit. To be poor in spirit means we know that all of our self-righteousness is as filthy rags and all of our self-propelled achievements are short-term and fleeting at best (see Isaiah 64:6). To be poor in spirit means that you know you need God. Why would this cause you to be 'blessed'? Because you are open to receiving God's free gift of salvation and allowing the Holy Spirit to work in your life. You are willing to humble yourself and pray: 'Lord Jesus, I need you. I accept you as my Saviour. I want to yield my life to your will and do things your way to the glory of your name.' If you are 'poor in spirit', you are willing to declare yourself spiritually bankrupt. And in so doing, you lay down your pride of spirit, your pride of will, your pride of intellect and your pride of heart at the feet of Jesus. If you are 'poor in spirit', you open yourself to God's saving mercy and grace. Consequently, you are able to enter God's Kingdom and enjoy all of its benefits and its blessings. 'Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven' (Matthew 5:3 NKJV) means you can pray, 'Lord, I acknowledge my total dependence on you.'
 
 — SCRIPTURE — 
 'Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven.' Matthew 5:3 NKJV 
 — SOULFOOD — 
 Hos 6-10, Luke 19:41-48, Ps 13, Pro 8:14-16

The Word For Today is a daily devotional by authors Bob and Debby Gass. Every day, tens of thousands of people across New Zealand are encouraged and uplifted by its relevant insights.

The daily readings resonate with people as they often speak into their current circumstances. Often readers express wonder at how a particular day’s devotion appeared to be ‘written just for me’

The Word For Today is a daily devotional by authors Bob and Debby Gass. Every day, tens of thousands of people across New Zealand are encouraged and uplifted by its relevant insights.
The daily readings resonate with people as they often speak into their current circumstances. Often readers express wonder at how a particular day&rsquo;s devotion appeared to be &lsquo;written just for me&rsquo;

The Word For Today

The first Beatitude

   To be 'meek' does not mean to be a doormat or to be indecisive, timid, fearful or spineless. It does not mean to act like a loser or a cowardly wimp. Meekness is 'power under control'. The Bible says Moses was the meekest man on the face of the earth in his day (see Numbers 12:3). Yet he was willing to go toe-to-toe with Pharaoh, to lead a grumbling people across a wilderness, and to climb a smoking, shaking mountain to meet personally with almighty God. Jesus described himself as 'gentle and lowly in heart' (Matthew 11:29 NKJV). Yet he was the most courageous man who ever lived. 

   What made Moses and Jesus meek? They manifested supreme power under control. Proverbs 16:32 (NKJV) describes this kind of power: 'He who is slow to anger is better than the mighty, and he who rules his spirit than he who takes a city'. And Proverbs 25:28 (NKJV) shows the flip side of meekness: 'Whoever has no rule over his own spirit is like a city broken down, without walls.' 

   The meek are those who have the power to hurt but choose not to. They have knowledge to destroy someone's reputation, but they don't use it. They have reason to hate but refuse to act on it. Such people exhibit meekness, which is simply strength harnessed and used to do good. And those who exercise meekness walk in God's blessing. The meek persevere until good overcomes evil, answers are found, remedies are generated, and reconciliation overcomes estrangement. And the meek sleep well at night - because their trust is in the Lord!





— SCRIPTURE —

    'Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.' Matthew 5:5 NKJV
— SOULFOOD —

    Hos 11-14, Luke 20:1-19, Ps 55:1-11, Pro 8:17-18
    

To be 'meek' does not mean to be a doormat or to be indecisive, timid, fearful or spineless. It does not mean to act like a loser or a cowardly wimp. Meekness is 'power under control'. The Bible says Moses was the meekest man on the face of the earth in his day (see Numbers 12:3). Yet he was willing to go toe-to-toe with Pharaoh, to lead a grumbling people across a wilderness, and to climb a smoking, shaking mountain to meet personally with almighty God. Jesus described himself as 'gentle and lowly in heart' (Matthew 11:29 NKJV). Yet he was the most courageous man who ever lived. What made Moses and Jesus meek? They manifested supreme power under control. Proverbs 16:32 (NKJV) describes this kind of power: 'He who is slow to anger is better than the mighty, and he who rules his spirit than he who takes a city'. And Proverbs 25:28 (NKJV) shows the flip side of meekness: 'Whoever has no rule over his own spirit is like a city broken down, without walls.' The meek are those who have the power to hurt but choose not to. They have knowledge to destroy someone's reputation, but they don't use it. They have reason to hate but refuse to act on it. Such people exhibit meekness, which is simply strength harnessed and used to do good. And those who exercise meekness walk in God's blessing. The meek persevere until good overcomes evil, answers are found, remedies are generated, and reconciliation overcomes estrangement. And the meek sleep well at night - because their trust is in the Lord!
 
 — SCRIPTURE — 
 'Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.' Matthew 5:5 NKJV 
 — SOULFOOD — 
 Hos 11-14, Luke 20:1-19, Ps 55:1-11, Pro 8:17-18

The third Beatitude

   'Blessed are those who mourn' (Matthew 5:4 NKJV). Jesus was not necessarily speaking about mourning the loss of a loved one, but that those who mourn over their sins will receive God's comfort. When we weep over our sins and the trouble they've brought to ourselves and to others, we put ourselves in a position to receive God's forgiveness. 

   True repentance does not focus on self. It's not morbid or despairing; it doesn't come from false humility or from wallowing in self-pity. It's honestly acknowledging that you need God's mercy and grace. As long as you delight in your sins, try to justify them or blame others for them, you cannot be forgiven. It is only when you pray, 'I confess I have sinned against you in my thoughts, words or actions' that you put yourself into a position to be cleansed of your sin. The Bible says, 'If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness' (1 John 1:8-9 NKJV). And in that is your comfort! 

   It is God's forgiveness that produces genuine joy and comfort in your souls. It is God's forgiveness that heals your deep inner wounds and restores you to intimacy with your heavenly Father. David said: 'I confessed all my sins to you and stopped trying to hide my guilt. I said to myself, "I will confess my rebellion to the Lord." And you forgave me! All my guilt is gone' (Psalm 32:5 NLT).





— SCRIPTURE —

    'Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.' Matthew 5:4 NKJV
— SOULFOOD —

    Exo 17:1-7, Isa 44:3, John 7:37-41
    

'Blessed are those who mourn' (Matthew 5:4 NKJV). Jesus was not necessarily speaking about mourning the loss of a loved one, but that those who mourn over their sins will receive God's comfort. When we weep over our sins and the trouble they've brought to ourselves and to others, we put ourselves in a position to receive God's forgiveness. True repentance does not focus on self. It's not morbid or despairing; it doesn't come from false humility or from wallowing in self-pity. It's honestly acknowledging that you need God's mercy and grace. As long as you delight in your sins, try to justify them or blame others for them, you cannot be forgiven. It is only when you pray, 'I confess I have sinned against you in my thoughts, words or actions' that you put yourself into a position to be cleansed of your sin. The Bible says, 'If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness' (1 John 1:8-9 NKJV). And in that is your comfort! It is God's forgiveness that produces genuine joy and comfort in your souls. It is God's forgiveness that heals your deep inner wounds and restores you to intimacy with your heavenly Father. David said: 'I confessed all my sins to you and stopped trying to hide my guilt. I said to myself, "I will confess my rebellion to the Lord." And you forgave me! All my guilt is gone' (Psalm 32:5 NLT).
 
 — SCRIPTURE — 
 'Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.' Matthew 5:4 NKJV 
 — SOULFOOD — 
 Exo 17:1-7, Isa 44:3, John 7:37-41

The second Beatitude

   In an old book titled Prevailing Prayer, author Eli Wigle described John Wesley's prayer life this way: 'As a matter of habit and rule, John Wesley's ordinary private praying consumed two hours a day. At times he would gather his company and pray all night, or till the power of God came down. Nothing was considered too great or too small to take to the Lord. Seized with pain in the midst of preaching, so that he could not speak, "I know my remedy," he said, and immediately kneeled down. In a moment the pain was gone...Being seized with a pain, fever and cough, so that he could scarcely speak, "I called on Jesus aloud to increase my faith. While I was speaking my pain vanished away, my fever left me, and my bodily strength returned."...Wesley...stirred the world with the fire of his zeal, because he had stirred Heaven by the fire of his prayers. His pleas had access to men's consciences, because they had access to God.' 

   Why did Wesley commit so much time to prayer? (1) Because he saw prayer as a cleansing and correcting force. In one of his prayers he said, 'Oh, fill up all that is wanting, reform whatever is amiss in me, perfect the thing that concerns me.' (2) Because he knew that God's will is the only plan and purpose that God is committed to. 'Now this is the confidence that we have in him, that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us' (1 John 5:14 NKJV).





— SCRIPTURE —

    'If we ask anything according to his will, he hears us.' 1 John 5:14 NKJV
— SOULFOOD —

    Hos 1-5, Luke 19:22-40, Ps 116:12-19, Pro 8:10-13
    

In an old book titled Prevailing Prayer, author Eli Wigle described John Wesley's prayer life this way: 'As a matter of habit and rule, John Wesley's ordinary private praying consumed two hours a day. At times he would gather his company and pray all night, or till the power of God came down. Nothing was considered too great or too small to take to the Lord. Seized with pain in the midst of preaching, so that he could not speak, "I know my remedy," he said, and immediately kneeled down. In a moment the pain was gone...Being seized with a pain, fever and cough, so that he could scarcely speak, "I called on Jesus aloud to increase my faith. While I was speaking my pain vanished away, my fever left me, and my bodily strength returned."...Wesley...stirred the world with the fire of his zeal, because he had stirred Heaven by the fire of his prayers. His pleas had access to men's consciences, because they had access to God.' Why did Wesley commit so much time to prayer? (1) Because he saw prayer as a cleansing and correcting force. In one of his prayers he said, 'Oh, fill up all that is wanting, reform whatever is amiss in me, perfect the thing that concerns me.' (2) Because he knew that God's will is the only plan and purpose that God is committed to. 'Now this is the confidence that we have in him, that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us' (1 John 5:14 NKJV).
 
 — SCRIPTURE — 
 'If we ask anything according to his will, he hears us.' 1 John 5:14 NKJV 
 — SOULFOOD — 
 Hos 1-5, Luke 19:22-40, Ps 116:12-19, Pro 8:10-13

The first Beatitude

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