Longing for our Father's Blessing
/He was still speaking when, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to him.”
Matthew 17:5 ESV
Years ago I was preparing to teach a study on Hebrews 11, God's Hall of Faith. Hebrews is one of my favorite books, and I have spent lots of time in that momentous letter. But this time, when I came to Hebrews 11, I read, as if for the first time, about two patriarchs that I rarely ever thought of in connection with faith: Isaac and Jacob.
By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau in regard to their future. By faith Jacob, when he was dying, blessed each of Joseph’s sons, and worshiped as he leaned on the top of his staff. Hebrews 11:20-21 NIV
It wasn’t the word “faith” that caught my attention, but the word blessed. By faith, these “patriarch - dads” blessed their sons.
The interesting thing is I had years before read the book The Blessing by Gary Smalley & John Trent. In that wonderful book, the authors explore our human need for approval and validation. They show how this need was met in the Biblical blessings given by fathers to children. But they shared how we could also do this for our children today and for others we care about.
The authors listed 5 elements to the Blessing:
1. Meaningful touch
2. Spoken words
3. Expressing High value
4. Picturing a Special Future
5. Active commitment
I intended to use what I learned from this book to bless my own young adult children and the ladies in my Bible study group. I basically left it at that, but God had other ideas.
I had been teaching PK at Xenia Christian. It was a small class of just five precious four year olds. And we had bonded throughout that school year.
Now it was the last day of school. We had been through a lot together: field trips, singing, snacks, crafts, counting, bible stories, reading books, puzzles, and lots more. And now the end … always a mixture of sadness and nostalgia and the loss connected with saying “good-bye” to this sweet group of little persons, nevermore under my “tutelage.”
So at the end of class that day, each child gathered his things in his appointed box for the last time. Just as we were all lined up and starting to walk down the hall out to the waiting moms, the Holy Spirit stopped me.
"Bless them!"
“Bless them?”
“Bless them!”
So there in the hallway, I laid my hands on each of those sweet children, one by one, and prayed over each in turn...unique words and blessings for every child.
I was in tears…
But what I'll never forget are the eager little faces … like little birds with their mouths open wide to receive… as each child waited his turn to be blessed!
No dry eyes for me...and a lesson learned in the value of blessing others!
Though we may not have received the needed blessing of affirmation from our own dads, we can receive and actually must receive it from our Heavenly Father.
“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” Jeremiah 29:11
And then the amazing and wonderful thing is we can be our Abba Father God’s instrument of blessing to others — His voice of affirmation and hope, His hug of love and tenderness, and His tears of joy and delight.
Is there someone in your life that needs love and affirmation? hope and encouragement?
Why not be the one to speak a blessing ... and be a blessing!
O Abba Father God, Lover of my heart and soul…
You have blessed me abundantly with your unconditional love and acceptance and grace.
You have healed my soul of the many lies I have believed about Who You are and Your attitude toward me.
Now in Your mercy and abundance, may I be Your instrument to speak blessing into the lives of those who so desperately need to hear from You, their Loving Creator Father God.
In Jesus’ Name. Amen.
