Blessed are the poor in spirit,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are those who mourn,
for they will be comforted.
Blessed are the meek,
for they will inherit the earth.
Matthew 5:3-5

For most of my life, I have had a passion to serve the poor, to “bless” the less fortunate. I had the privilege of growing up in a home with parents who gave so much of themselves to others. I watched my dad tirelessly serve the widows who came into his service station, and grew up with a mother who spent years of her life loving middle school students who were in desperate need of affection and affirmation. As I have grown up, my definition of the “less fortunate” has evolved to not only include those in physical poverty as well as the “poor in spirit”. I have learned that each person, at some point, is in some type of poverty of the spirit. We are all in need of the grace, mercy, and healing of Christ, no matter what our income or social status. We have all been abused and hurt in some way, we have all felt worthless in comparison to those around us, we can all be classified as the “poor in spirit”.

“The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me, because the LORD has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners, to proclaim the year of the LORD’s favor and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn, and provide for those who grieve in Zion— to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the LORD for the display of his splendor.”
Isaiah 61:1-3

I believe my call to bring light to the dark places of the world is clear. I believe this does not require traveling to the poorest countries of the world, but mere obedience to be present where the Lord has called me. My neighbor is in just as much need of Christ as the children of Africa.

However, I am beginning to realize that to give the grace, healing, life, and hope of Christ to the “poor in spirit”, I must also recognize my own need. I am not excluded from those who desperately need Jesus. I can only freely give grace to the extent that I freely receive grace. I can only bring freedom to those captive as I receive the freedom Christ has provided for me.

Jesus came to redeem his children and I am His precious and chosen daughter. He came to bring hope and light to the world in which I am a part. Christ calls me to himself as he says, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” (Matthew 11:28-30)

So today I will choose to recognize my own poverty and need for Christ. I will choose to allow him to pour his grace upon me. And I will choose to know my identity as his daughter, his creation, his beloved. I choose this so that the love, light, hope, and life that I receive may overflow to the poor in spirit around me.