Uploaded July 2026 | Updated September 2026, 3 weeks ago
Social platforms have introduced many new phenomena. One of them is placing a hashtag in front of a word—tagging it so it becomes searchable.
It’s estimated that the phrase #blessed,” has been used in more than 100 million posts on Instagram alone! Often, this tag is used to highlight something received or experienced—a gift, vacation, or a special moment.
But blessings from heaven are more than moments of good fortune. They are often tender, specific, timely, and merciful gifts—given in love by God to His children. In many ways, God’s blessings are an extension of His hand in our lives—guiding, supporting, and preparing us according to His will. Even when it feels as though we are not receiving the blessings we need, it does not mean He is absent. Some blessings simply take time to be recognized or to unfold.
Divine blessings come in many ways.
Some are given simply because we are children of God. He desires to bless all of us. As the New Testament records, “He maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.”
Other blessings are conditioned on our obedience to God’s commandments. The book of Malachi teaches, “Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse … and prove me now herewith … if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing.” These blessings require us to act in faith before we receive.
Still others are held in reserve, waiting for us to ask with a sincere heart. Jesus, teaching His disciples, declared, “Until now you have not asked for anything in my name. Ask and you will receive, so that your joy may be complete.”
God is eager to bless us. Just as He promised covenant Israel that he would “rejoice over them [and] do them good,” even with His “whole heart and … whole soul,” He likewise desires to bless us today. As we look for the blessings He has already granted, strive to act in obedience to His commandments, and ask in faith for the blessings we need—fully trusting His timing—we can rest assured, knowing we are in His hands and in His sight.
Social platforms have introduced many new phenomena. One of them is placing a hashtag in front of a word—tagging it so it becomes searchable.
It’s estimated that the phrase #blessed,” has been used in more than 100 million posts on Instagram alone! Often, this tag is used to highlight something received or experienced—a gift, vacation, or a special moment.
But blessings from heaven are more than moments of good fortune. They are often tender, specific, timely, and merciful gifts—given in love by God to His children. In many ways, God’s blessings are an extension of His hand in our lives—guiding, supporting, and preparing us according to His will. Even when it feels as though we are not receiving the blessings we need, it does not mean He is absent. Some blessings simply take time to be recognized or to unfold.
Divine blessings come in many ways.
Some are given simply because we are children of God. He desires to bless all of us. As the New Testament records, “He maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.”
Other blessings are conditioned on our obedience to God’s commandments. The book of Malachi teaches, “Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse … and prove me now herewith … if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing.” These blessings require us to act in faith before we receive.
Still others are held in reserve, waiting for us to ask with a sincere heart. Jesus, teaching His disciples, declared, “Until now you have not asked for anything in my name. Ask and you will receive, so that your joy may be complete.”
God is eager to bless us. Just as He promised covenant Israel that he would “rejoice over them [and] do them good,” even with His “whole heart and … whole soul,” He likewise desires to bless us today. As we look for the blessings He has already granted, strive to act in obedience to His commandments, and ask in faith for the blessings we need—fully trusting His timing—we can rest assured, knowing we are in His hands and in His sight.









![No Man Is An Island | Spoken Word #5058 August 23, 2026
“No man is an island, entire of itself; every man is a piece of the continent, a part of the main.” Those words, written more than 400 years ago by John Donne, are as true today as they have ever been.
Each of us—every human being—matters so very much in this world. The influence of “you” or “me” as an individual is great, even beyond our ability to comprehend. Often, when we look at our lives, we do just that—we look at our lives through our own lenses and experiences. But if we could take a step back—maybe even 100 steps back—we would begin to see just how deeply our lives actually influence the lives of others.
The power that lies within a person is propelled by personal choice. In each of our lives, there are times when major decisions need to be made—decisions that have consequences, for good or bad, for decades or even generations to come. But more often, we make seemingly small everyday choices—underlying choices, if you will, that hold great and at times unappreciated potential for true and lasting impact.
An executive recently shared the underlying choices in his life. He asked: “Will I choose faith and trust, or control and security? Will I focus on what I can give, or only on what I can gain? Will I view my role as one of stewardship or ownership? Do I serve others or do I take advantage of them? Am I dedicating my time to what matters most, or simply seeking to maximize profit?”
Whatever our situation in life may be, our underlying decisions become directional. They determine whether we live as an island unto ourselves or as a contributing part of the main.
The world, at times, can cause us to feel as if we’re disconnected on a far away remote island feeling that no one understands and that we must look out only for ourselves. But this is false. We are connected to one another. We each have the power to choose, the power to serve, the power to influence. As John Donne reminded us, “No man is an island. [Each of us] is a piece of the continent, a part of the main.” No Man Is An Island | Spoken Word #5058 August 23, 2026](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/WV00RLiSl-Q/mqdefault.jpg)
