Blessings for Your Children (from A Father's Guide to Blessing His Children by David Michael)
How many of us have Father issues that affect the relationship we have with God? Mine are minimal compared to some I have heard and rightfully so. My father was not perfect, but he tried. This is more than he got to experience personally. His father was gone around the time he was two. I place no fault on anyone and my intent is not to get into those relationships. What I am writing this for is the purpose of helping equip other father's who are looking for ways to share grace and truths about our heavenly Father with their children. To be honest, I had never thought about the act of blessing my children, but learning about it has made an impact on my life and I pray that the Lord use it to impact my daughters and wife.
What I am about to do is simply present a practical application for a subject that deserves some personal study. I recommend two books. The first is a very brief blessing book by David Michael entitled A Father's Guide to Blessing His Children. It sums up some key points and provides memory cards with scriptural blessings to use. I will post a few of those here.
A more in depth book on blessing your children was given to me by a pastor at my church named Bud Burk. It is on interceding for your children. It is much larger, but just as practical. It is filled with prayers and explains the importance of establishing God as the hope they set their eyes and hearts on. I have not completed it, but from what I have seen, there will be much for me to learn about it. Of course, I am seeking the Lord's wisdom in learning to really pray and seek Him. This may prove to be one of the tools provided to sanctify and educate me on His ways.
Here is the short explanation of some of the things that are crucial to understanding blessings. A fella named Rolf Garbog defines four different categories of blessings found in scripture. A good way to explain one of these categories is "the intentional act of speaking God's favor and power into someone's life, often accompanied by a symbolic gesture such as laying hands on the person." Michael makes note that it is a way to nurture the faith of our children and bestow God's blessing on their lives.
Blessings are pretty standard practice in Israel's experience at home and when they gathered as people. It is a responsibility and a blessing to bless your family.I would also like to note that my experience is similar to Michael and several other brothers I have spoken with-place your hands on your children. I cup my hand softly on each of my daughters' foreheads and over their hair. I pray the blessing over them. They love it and run up to me to complete it. Well, my five year old does. Sometimes the three year old ducks around and thinks its play time. I just pray the blessing out loud for her and let her know the importance of blessings and God's good gifts like mercy and grace. I don't know if this is the best way to address it, but it is what I feel convicted to do out of love for my daughter. The touch makes it personal as pastor Bud put it.
So here are a couple of verses/blessings in the book that I want to share. Pastor Bud also made blessing simple. Simply add may to a promise of God in scripture. You can peep the verses used and see it practically applied in the examples below:
Genesis 48:15-16
May the God before whom Abraham and Isaac walked, the God who has been my shepherd to this day, and who has delivered me from all harm--bless you and make His name live on in you and in your children after you. Amen!
Psalm 121:5-8
May the Lord watch over you. May He be a shade at your right hand so that the sun will not harm you by day or the moon by night. May the Lord keep you from all harm. May He watch over your life. May He watch over your coming and your going, both now and forever. Amen!
And one of my favorite:
Hebrews 13:20-21
May the God of Peace
Who brought up from the dead, Jesus Christ our Lord through the blood of the eternal covenant
Equip you with every good thing to do His will, and work in you that which is pleasing in His sight through the power of Jesus Christ to whom be the glory forever and ever. Amen!
Please check out A Father's Guide to Blessing His Children by David Michael for more practical advice and additional prewritten blessings. Well worth the investment. I pray this blesses many of you like it has blessed me.
