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May You Be Blessed

Women's Devotion

Julia Bettencourt

February 23, 2012

The LORD bless thee, and keep thee. Numbers 6:24 (KJV)

I was looking over the calendar and adding some things to it for my kids when I noticed St. Patrick’s Day coming up. The first thing that always seems to come to mind for me is that "Old Irish Blessing".

My husband's great-aunt gave me a wooden plaque of that Irish Blessing years ago and for the longest time it hung in my bathroom, as I didn't have anywhere else that I wanted to put it.

I can remember that as I'd get ready for the day putting on makeup or fixing my hair, that sometimes I'd glance at that and hope I would have one of those days where blessings were upon me and thinking how nice it would be if someone was praying those blessings on me at that very minute.

If you are not familiar with it, here are the words.

May the road rise up to meet you.
May the wind always be at your back.
May the sun shine warm upon your face,
and rains fall soft upon your fields.
And until we meet again,
May God hold you in the palm of His hand.

As the words of that came back to my memory, it reminded me of some of the blessings and words of goodwill in the Bible.

For Esau

If you know your Bible, you know that Isaac was tricked into blessing his son Jacob rather than Esau, but in his heart the blessing he had was for his oldest son, Esau. It is what Isaac wanted for him.

And he came near, and kissed him: and he smelled the smell of his raiment, and blessed him, and said, See, the smell of my son is as the smell of a field which the LORD hath blessed: Therefore God give thee of the dew of heaven, and the fatness of the earth, and plenty of corn and wine: Let people serve thee, and nations bow down to thee: be lord over thy brethren, and let thy mother's sons bow down to thee: cursed be every one that curseth thee, and blessed be he that blesseth thee. Genesis 27:27-29 (KJV)

For the Children of Israel

Look at the words that God told Moses to deliver to Aaron and his sons to give to the children of Israel.

And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, Speak unto Aaron and unto his sons, saying, On this wise ye shall bless the children of Israel, saying unto them. Numbers 6:22,23 (KJV)

I think this is even more poetic than that Old Irish Blessing.

The LORD bless thee, and keep thee: The LORD make his face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee: The LORD lift up his countenance upon thee, and give thee peace. And they shall put my name upon the children of Israel; and I will bless them. Numbers 6:24-27 (KJV)

For the Saints at Ephesus

Paul gives in several of his books a type of blessing or even prayers for the churches in which he preached.

In Ephesians 3:14, 15, Paul begins his prayer for these New Testament Christians and goes on to say.

That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man; That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God. Ephesians 3:16-19 (KJV)

For the "Scattered" Believers

When Peter starts out his epistles it says that they were written...

...to the strangers scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace unto you, and peace, be multiplied. 1 Peter 1:1-2 (KJV)

From this we see he was writing to several of the New Testament Christians. In 1 Peter 5 we see some of the things he wanted for these believers.

But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you. 1 Peter 5:10 (KJV)

Again, Peter has some wants for them over in his second epistle.

But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen. 2 Peter 3:18 (KJV)

Final Thoughts

What I see about all of these things from the Old Irish Blessing to these various blessings and prayers in the Bible for other people is that they are all uplifting and meant as goodwill toward others.

We can see by what these people said and the words used that they cared about what path and direction those around them were taking. In their hearts these people wished and wanted the best for others.

I have to admit that I'm not sure I always want the best for others or even think about it sometimes. I'm not saying that I wish bad on people, but I think maybe I've grown a little complacent about others around me and those I love. You know, not really think about their wants and needs as much as I should or think about blessings for their lives.

I'm not really sure I pray enough for them, give them enough praise, give themgood advice when needed, or give them too many uplifting words like I should. Maybe that's something I'll have to work on in my life.

It always amazes me that the Christian life always boils down to that "love" Christ stressed so much for us to show to others. It's so simple and yet here I am again learning that lesson over again.

So, what are you wishing on others?

Go to the Julia's Devotions.