BLESSINGS AND BENEDICTIONS.

Blessings and benedictions are common throughout the world and come in many different forms.We often encourage others in their goals and offer short greetings to those we meet. We wish others peace and prosperity and ask God to protect those we love. We often bless people when they sneeze and hear people (even those who have no interest in God) use the phrase, “God Bless You”

Also,pastors and preachers frequently end their sermons with some sort of benediction, and we traditionally conclude our letters and messages with some sort of final blessing or salutation.Most blessings are simple sayings that communicate kindness and goodwill to those they are directed towards. However,in the Bible, we learn that God’s blessings carry far more spiritual significance than just a casual greeting or obligatory saying.

God’s blessings are filled with His favor, His promises, His power, and His presence. And we see in the Scripture that God loves to bless His people. There is enormous power in the blessings of God. In fact, in the Old Testament, God provided instructions for how his priests were to bless the nation of Israel. Today, those instructions provide an incredible template for how we should bless others and an explanation of why God’s blessings are so powerful even still.

In today’s text, we find God’s heart for His people on full display.It is clear from the words of this blessing and the countless examples provided in the Old Testament, that God would never abandon His people nor break covenant with them, even if they walked out on Him or betrayed their end of the bargain. According to Matthew Henry, this blessing communicates the heart of God in its promise to protect His people from evil (2 Thessalonians 3:3), pardon them from their sin (Micah 7:18), and provide peace in the midst of chaos (Philippians 4:7). As the sun shines upon the earth, so God’s face would shine on His people to enlighten, comfort, and renew them. Likewise, the Lord would lift “His countenance” on His people as a father looks upon his children.

Beloved of God,the bottom line is that God delights in you and takes pleasure in your well-being. This was the nature of the covenant God made with you. You are God’s people and He your God. He would “keep” you in the shadow of His wings and never let go no matter what. Are you aware that God loves and cares for you as well? If you make Him your God and remain in Him,He will not but bless and keep you.

Prophetic Prayer

I pray for you today:

1. May the Lord bless you and keep you

2. He will make His face to shine on you

3. The Lord will be gracious to you

4. He will turn His face towards you and give you peace

5. Remain blessed in Him

So shall it be in the name of Jesus. Amen

Have a good day and a blessed week.

CHRIST IS THE ANSWER!