I believe blessings are much more important than we realize. The words we speak--whether blessings or other--can make the difference in our life and the lives of those around us. In the Old Testament book of Genesis there is a story that illustrates this very clearly. In chapter 27 we find the story of Jacob taking the "blessing" that had been reserved for his older brother Esau. Isaac, their father, planned to give the "blessing" to Esau. Rebecca, the mother of Jacob and Esau loved Jacob more and plotted with Jacob to trick Isaac into giving the "blessing" to Jacob rather than Esau. It is interesting that all this scheming took place over a few sentences to be spoken by Isaac. I think many people in our society might say, "why all the fuss." Let me explain a little further.
All of this fuss is over the words spoken in the two verses--28 and 29. In these verses Isaac says "May God give you of heaven's dew and of earth's richness--an abundance of grain and new wine. May nations serve you and peoples bow down to you. Be Lord over your brothers, and may the sons of your mother bow down to you. May those who curse you be cursed and those who bless you be blessed." This is a very nice prayer but is this worth all of the fuss. The answer is...yes. Now, I know Jacob received this through trickery and I am not saying he was right in doing that. (Actually, Esau had sold this to Jacob for a bowl of bean soup but did not plan to honor that agreement.)
My point is the "blessing" is more than mere words. Let me show you what I mean. The response of Esau is the key. When he finds out that Jacob has stolen his "blessing" he says to his father, "Haven't you reserved any blessing for me?" Isaac responds, "I have made him Lord over you and have made all his relatives his servants, and I have sustained him with grain and new wine. So what can I possibly do for you, my son?" Notice that Isaac did not tell Esau, "I have told him he could be Lord over you." No, he said point blank, "I have made him Lord over you." What had been spoken could not be changed. To Isaac, the words that he spoke were more than words they were fact. He knew they would come true. They were substance.
I think we miss this sometimes. We don't realize the spiritual principle at work here. We don't realize how powerful the words we speak are, whether we are speaking to someone else or about them. There is great power in praying a blessing over others. We, as a society and as Christians in this society, need to learn this truth: the words we speak are more than words. We must learn to speak words of blessing into the lives of others: friends, neighbors, "our" churches and "their" churches, our nation, our leaders, and our world.
Begin today to speak blessings into the lives of other and not only will you see the blessings of God in their lives you will know the blessings of God in your life also.
Father, I ask for your rich and powerful blessings for the person who is reading this prayer right now. I ask for your protection and power to be known in their daily life. I ask for wisdom and understanding to rise up within them and the ability to act on God's will in humility and obedience. I ask for your grace and love to fill them up to overflowing so people to come into contact with everyday will experience your grace and love through them. Father, I ask for faith and strength to use the gifts and talents you have given them according to your will and purpose. Father, I ask you to give them your great joy. Thank you for your work in their life. In Jesus' name, Amen.
Tim
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