This evening as I was putting my granddaughter Melody to bed, I was reminded of a tradition that began when my children were very young. After the bedtime stories, lullabies, prayers, and multiple cups of water... I would bless each child with a sign of the cross and the words uttered by Moses in today’s Scripture passage. It is a tradition now carried on by my children who are parents themselves, and I cherish it whenever I tuck my grandchildren into bed. After Melody drifted contentedly off to sleep (thankfully!), I came downstairs to see these words framed above the dining table.

You may have heard these verses spoken by a priest at the end of a worship service. In fact, God himself directed Moses to instruct the priests of Israel to use these exact words to bless the Israelites. But it is not just priests who may bless congregations. Christians may bless each other. And parents and grandparents, especially, have the privilege of blessing their children. We know that this is dear to Jesus’ heart, as he too took children to himself and blessed them (Mark 10:14-16).

In a prayer, we direct our words to God; in a blessing, we direct our words to an individual. These words can take many forms, but fundamentally, it is an opportunity to speak Biblical truth over an individual so that the person knows he or she is loved, never alone, guided, and chosen by God. There is power in a blessing, especially when done with regularity and intention. Blessings can help counter the steady barrage of lies that are contrary to who God says we are (See article here).

Have you ever spoken words of blessing to a friend or loved one? Can you remember a time when words of blessing strengthened your soul? How can you use a blessing to encourage a friend experiencing a difficult time?

My prayer is that we all find ways to bless each other for the building up of the body of Christ.

God bless you!

Lois