Blessed Are The Poor In Spirit

BLESSED ARE THE POOR IN SPIRIT

a prayer to open

Give me eyes to see, Lord—

to see your Kingdom, your heart, your love. Give me eyes to see.

Most of us have an inherent sense of what it means to be poor in spirit. Certain people come to mind—those who are humble, open, and at peace in an unusual way. They are gentle in spirit, and something makes us want to be near them when our souls are in states of unrest. Their total dependence on God draws us in and makes us pay attention. They bring us closer to the heart of Jesus. This should come as no surprise. After all, Jesus exemplified poverty of spirit. Paul described Jesus this way:

Who, being in very nature God,

did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage;

rather, he made himself nothing

by taking the very nature of a servant,

being made in human likeness.

And being found in appearance as a man,

he humbled himself

by becoming obedient to death—

even death on a cross!

Philippians 2:6-8, NIV

The Kingdom of God belongs to the poor in spirit.

• Reflect on a time in your life when you felt totally dependent on God. What did you learn about him during that time? What did you learn about yourself?
• How would you describe the opposite of “poor in spirit”? What does that look like in your own life?
• What practices, relationships, and circumstances tend to keep you dependent on God? What habits, situations, and people cause you to exert control and act independently?

Father, I long for your blessing. I long to have a heart that looks like yours, that seeks to bless and love and forgive rather than judge and condemn and withhold grace. I long for a surrendered, dependent soul—one that mourns over the heartbroken, the lost, the oppressed, and the sick. Help me, Lord, to release my grip on the things of the world today, and empower me by your Spirit to seek your Kingdom and your values. My life and all that I am is yours. Amen.