Yesterday was Mother’s Day. We have a tradition on Mother’s Day. After dinner and just before gifts are given each of the children gives a blessing to their mother. It’s a touching and beautiful time. Tears, tenderness, laughter, and love. Blessings are powerful and memorable.
People long for blessings. Jesus spoke often of blessings. He even taught his followers to bless their enemies. From the beginning to the end the Bible emphasizes the power of blessings.
The skill of blessing is a powerful skill to acquire. Here are three ways to make a blessing powerful:
1. Use Carefully Chosen Meaningful Words.
Our words are powerful for good or evil. When we chose words carefully and arrange them meaningfully, they have great power. When used thoughtlessly or they can cause deep and lasting harm. Life and death are in the power of the tongue. (Proverbs 18:21)
2. Use God’s Words.
A blessing is especially powerful when you include a meaningful scripture. A few years ago a friend called and said; “I was reading my Bible this morning and I came across the last words of David. Have you ever read the last words of David?”
“I’m sure I have, but I can’t bring them to mind right now,” I said.
“The last words of David were: ‘When one rules justly over men, ruling in the fear of God, he dawns on them like the morning light, like the sun shining forth on a cloudless morning, like rain that makes grass to sprout from the earth.’ This is from 2 Samuel 23:3-4.”
He said; “When I read that I thought of you. You get up early every morning. You use words to bless people. It’s like the sun coming up in the morning after a refreshing rain.”
That was a powerful blessing that I will never forget. One of the things that made it powerful is that it came from the Scriptures. If you want to bless people powerfully, use a meaningful passage of scripture.
3. Use God’s name.
God told Moses to bless the people using His name:
“And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying: “Speak to Aaron and his sons, saying, ‘This is the way you shall bless the children of Israel. Say to them: “The LORD bless you and keep you; The LORD make His face shine upon you, And be gracious to you; The LORD lift up His countenance upon you, And give you peace.” ’ “So they shall put My name on the children of Israel, and I will bless them.”” (Numbers 6:22–27, NKJV)
When you know that what you have said is an expression of God’s will you can use the power of God’s name. Never take God’s name in vain, but we do have the authority to attach the name of God to something that is clearly His will. That is why we pray in God’s name. In the same way we can bless in God’s name.
If you want to be a blessing. Use meaningful words, use scripture, and use God’s name. It is a powerful, memorable, meaningful thing confer a blessing on someone.
Ken Pierpont
Granville Cottage
Riverview, Michigan
May 9, 2016
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