Words of blessing

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One morning, shortly before seven o’clock, I was listening to a radio broadcast in which a pastor shared a short spiritual reflection. He said something remarkable about blessing. His words were simple, yet profound: "To bless means to find words of goodness!”

1. The Good Word

A blessing is a good word, often accompanied by gestures. Throughout history, blessings have been spoken on many different occasions (Biblical Dictionary), including:

• When greeting someone or saying goodbye
• During church services
• At important turning points in life, , at weddings, and when the death of a family patriarch was approaching
• such as the birth of a child
• at weddings
• and when the death of a family patriarch was approaching

2. Blessing Creates Community

We see this beautifully expressed in the Aaronic blessing in Numbers 6:22–27. Its words unfold in four movements, each revealing a different aspect of God’s care for us.

• The Lord bless you and keep you. This means that God places His blessing upon you. He is your protector when you face danger and uncertainty.
  
  
• Der Herr lasse sein Angesicht über dir leuchten“ heißt: In Seiner Nähe wird dein Weg hell und bekommst du Orientierung! Gott sei uns gnädig und segne uns, er lasse sein Angesicht leuchten über uns, Psalm 67,2 (ELB)

• And be gracious to you. God shows you His favor. He welcomes you even when you fail, and He comes to your aid when you face physical suffering and hardship.
  
  
• The Lord turn His face toward you. God does not overlook you. He takes a personal interest in your life, meeting you right where you are, even in the midst of conflict, difficult circumstances, and the challenges of everyday life. Psalm 121 reminds us of this comforting truth: our help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth. He watches over us and never ceases to care for us. Through blessing, we are reminded that we are not alone. We belong to one another, and we are held in God's loving care.

3. The Blessing Does Not End at the Grave

Through Jesus Christ, we experience the fullness of God and the riches of His heavenly blessings. 

Und ihr könnt auch die Liebe erkennen, die Christus zu uns hat; eine Liebe, die größer ist, als ihr je begreifen werdet. Dadurch wird euch der Reichtum Gottes immer mehr erfüllen. Epheser3,19 (NLB)

God’s love is greater than we can ever fully comprehend. His blessing reaches beyond what we can see or understand, offering a hope that extends beyond death itself.

Even at the grave, the blessing does not have the final word—God’s love does.

4. Lord, Bless Us (From a song: Klaus Heizmann)

Lord, we ask You, come and bless us; lay Your peace upon us.

Hold Your hands above us in blessing; touch us with Your power.”

These words express a simple but heartfelt prayer: that God would bless us, fill us with His peace, and touch our lives with His presence.

5. Words of Blessing 

The Aaronic blessing remains one of the most beautiful blessings in the Bible: 

Der HERR segne dich und behüte dich; der HERR lasse sein Angesicht leuchten über dir und sei dir gnädig; der HERR hebe sein Angesicht über dich und gebe dir Frieden.  4. Mo. 6, 24-26. (LUT)

6. May the Lord Bless You (Song: Kay Waechter)

1. May the Lord bless you. May the Lord watch over you.

May the Lord give you peace. May His face shine upon you

today and tomorrow, yes, forevermore.

2. He is the Lord who sees you, a God of peace, a God of salvation. 

He is the Lord who hears you; through His Spirit, He is with you. 

Whom Will We Meet Today?

Whom will we encounter today? Who might need a kind word, a word of encouragement, or a reminder that they are not alone?

Let us pay attention to one another. Let us meet each other with kindness, care, and words of blessing.

For when we bless one another, we share something of God’s goodness and love.

Everything depends on God’s blessing!

Author: Egon Waechter
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