Making the Beatitudes your own
I read the Beatitudes in the New Living Translation, and for the first time I could really feel this sermon speaking to me. I read this section, and then I re-read it, personalizing it with my own name. This was so meaningful to me, I decided to share it with my readers.
First, here is Matthew 5:3-13 in the New Living Translation:
The Beatitudes
3 “God blesses those who are poor and realize their need for him,[a]
for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs.
4 God blesses those who mourn,
for they will be comforted.
5 God blesses those who are humble,
for they will inherit the whole earth.
6 God blesses those who hunger and thirst for justice,[b]
for they will be satisfied.
7 God blesses those who are merciful,
for they will be shown mercy.
8 God blesses those whose hearts are pure,
for they will see God.
9 God blesses those who work for peace,
for they will be called the children of God.
10 God blesses those who are persecuted for doing right,
for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs.
11 “God blesses you when people mock you and persecute you and lie about you and say all sorts of evil things against you because you are my followers. 12 Be happy about it! Be very glad! For a great reward awaits you in heaven. And remember, the ancient prophets were persecuted in the same way.
I reprinted this with my own name, and I felt like Jesus was speaking to me personally. Please read personalized to your name. Here is how. I left a blank line for your name. If you like this, please copy this, and then print it into your own document and put your there.
The reason I did this is so I could pray this and believe what Jesus said to me. This is NOT to change the Scripture. This Scripture speaks to all people. This is just to enable me to pray the Scripture out loud, and to claim God’s word for myself. I also know not all promises in the Bible are for me, personally, but I know this section is for all believers.
Matthew 5:3-13 (NLT, modified to name) * put your name here where the blank line is
The Beatitudes
3 “God blesses _____ who is poor and realizes her need for him,[a]
for the Kingdom of Heaven is hers.
4 God blesses _____who mourns,
for she will be comforted.
5 God blesses _____who is humble,
for she will inherit the whole earth.
6 God blesses _____who hungers and thirsts for justice,[b]
for she will be satisfied.
7 God blesses _____who is merciful,
for she will be shown mercy.
8 God blesses _____whose heart is pure,
for she will see God.
9 God blesses _____who works for peace,
for she will be called the child of God.
10 God blesses _____ who is persecuted for doing right,
for the Kingdom of Heaven is hers.
11 “God blesses _____when people mock _____and persecute _____and lie about _____and say all sorts of evil things against _____because _____is my follower. 12 Be happy about it! Be very glad! For a great reward awaits _____in heaven. And remember, the ancient prophets were persecuted in the same way.