But How Do We Actually Speak Blessings?

This is my precious father praying a blessing over our son, Ben.

As I am going back through The Power of Spoken Blessings, I think it would be best in this place to briefly go over Chapters 2 and 3 and then focus most of this post on Chapter 4 because that is where a lot of the "practical", "how-to" stuff starts. And as a sweet commenter requested specifics, I would love to jump over to that.

In Chapter 2, "The Power of a Name", Bill Gothard says this:

" . . . our strongest blessings for others will come when we invoke the mighty name of God, for that name designates His personality, His character, his will, and His heart for blessing all creation.  The most powerful blessings begin, then, by simply speaking His name: 'The Lord bless you . . . '" (The Power of Spoken Blessings, p. 19)

He explains in this chapter more about the blessedness of the Lord and how the overflowing blessings He possesses are actually the Source for all the blessings we receive, embodied especially in Christ Jesus. 

Chapter 3 is called "The Overlooked Power of Our Words". In this chapter several stories are told to illustrate just how powerful our words are for blessing and cursing. But why are our words so powerful? 

Gothard says it this way: "Like it or not, our words represent who we really are. They're the living expression of a person's heart, in the same way that Jesus Christ is the living expression of God the Father and is called 'the Word'." (The Power of Spoken Blessings, p. 26)


Chapter 4, "The Power of God's Words", starts off by explaining that the strongest form of verbal blessing will include three things: God's name, our words, and the Lord's words. As we learn to use this tool, the Lord teaches us to see the person we desire to bless the way He sees them. What are their spiritual needs? What character do you see in that person that could be encouraged? What character qualities are lacking that the Lord desires to grow in them? What needs do they have? All of these give insight into potential blessings that can be spoken.


"When we bless others, we can speak forth the biblical goals and biblical answers God has for them.  In this way, we begin to impart to them the desire and power to truly live those words out--empowered by the active work of Christ in their lives and the strong help of the indwelling Holy Spirit." (The Power of Spoken Blessings, p. 33) So speaking a blessing that seeks to encourage the growth of what God sees or has planned for that person can actually help them grow into that vision. It can stir up the desire to become what God wants them to become.


As we seek to see others through His eyes, we need to pray for wisdom and discernment. He will show us through His Word and through the Spirit the true needs of the person we desire to bless. As we read Scripture, He will give us specific "words, phrases, and concepts" that He wants us to pray for someone.


But how do we actually form a blessing?


The first specific example of a blessing framework that Gothard uses to help illustrate these things is the one at the end of Numbers 6. You already know this:

"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."

Using this as a framework, and adding the insights the Lord has given you from Scripture and through the Spirit, we can combine all into a powerful blessing. He gives an example. Say you know someone who struggles with fear and anxiety. By combining insights from Scripture with the framework from Numbers 6, this is the blessing he gives:

"May the Lord God bless you and keep you from the torment of fear and anxiety.  May He cause His face to shine upon you with power, love, and a sound mind and give you grace to cast out fear through perfect love. May He lift up His countenance upon you with freedom as you tell Him every detail of your need in earnest, thankful prayer, and give you the peace that surpasses all understanding as he keeps your heart and mind safe through Jesus Christ."

You recognize the Scriptures he uses here:

II Timothy 1:7 "For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power of love and of a sound mind." 

I John 4:18 "There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love."

Philippians 4:6, 7 "Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus."

Bill Gothard gives several other examples of combining God's Name, Scripture, and our words into blessings in this chapter. I will give one more here, since this post is growing so long. I really cannot do justice to this amazing little book in a few posts and I just think everyone needs to read it for themselves. It's that important. 

The other example I want to share here is for someone going through trials. By using the verse from I Peter 5:10, he wrote this blessing:

"May the God of all grace, who has called you to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, bless you and keep you strong during this time of testing.  May He cause His face to shine upon you and give you grace to endure suffering for His sake. May He lift up His countenance upon you to make you perfect, and after your sufferings are over, may He establish, strengthen, and settle you with His peace."

Now, I know I would feel blessed indeed to have these words prayed over me if I were going through difficult situations. 

More specifics to come. 

Holy Father,

In Your Mighty Name I ask that you help each one seeking to learn to speak Your blessings over those they love. May Your Words and Insights be revealed so that we may see through Your eyes those we desire to bless. May Your Grace stir up in us a desire to help accomplish Your Purposes in others as we speak blessings into their lives. Spirit, please open our eyes to see the words that would be the greatest encouragement. May we learn to speak Light into the darkness. May we be a steady conduit of Your Blessings to the world. May we never allow another unwholesome word to come out of our mouths. Please forgive me for all the times I have spoken a curse instead of a blessing. I have no right to ever curse another, made in Your Image. May we refuse to be offended and never speak another word in anger that would tear down or curse. May Your Name be blessed in all the earth and may it begin with me. Today. Thank You for Your unfailing, abundant Love. Thank You that You seek to bless us all the days of our lives. We praise Your Holy Name.

Previous Posts about Spoken Blessings:
1. Spoken Blessings 
2. Spoken Blessings, Part II 

Next Posts about Spoken Blessings:
4. Unexpected Benefit 
5. Chapter 6: Blessing our Children
6. A Light Bulb Flips On