If you hang around Christians, you might hear the word “blessed.” They will sometimes say things like “I’m blessed and highly favored,” and “I’m too blessed to be stressed,” and “God bless you.” On the fourth of July in the USA, they will often sing “God Bless America.” But what does it mean to be blessed?

Are you blessed? Is your nation blessed? Here is how Jesus defines the term in the part of the Bible known as the Beatitudes. (Matthew 5:3-12)

* To be blessed isn’t to have pride. It’s to have deep humility because humble people allow God to rule and direct them from within.

* To be blessed isn’t to be superficially happy. It is to morn because people who feel the sadness of grief are being called to open their heart to God’s comfort.

* To be blessed isn’t to be stubborn. It’s to be pliable and meek so that God can bend your thoughts, beliefs, feelings, and desires to match His will.

* To be blessed isn’t to be well satisfied with your life. It is to be inwardly filled with hunger and thirst to live a life that is morally aligned with God and His commandments.

* To be blessed isn’t to blame and accuse people. It is to show them mercy, compassion, and forgiveness so that you, yourself, can receive God’s mercy and forgiveness.

* To be blessed isn’t to have a tempted, tormented, and shame-filled heart. It is to allow God to lead you to inner purity so that you can see Him more clearly.

* To be blessed is not to stir up hostility. It is to be a Spirit-led peacemaker — a true child of God.

* To be blessed isn’t to be praised by people. It is to be persecuted and falsely accused because of aligning your heart, mind, and behavior with God the way the ancient prophets did. It is to experience the ability to rejoice and be glad when you are being persecuted for speaking the truth in love.