Day 22 : The prayer of blessing

"Bless those who persecute you, bless and curse not" (Romans 12:14).

Among the various forms of prayer, let us remember this one : The prayer of blessing. Let us remember that this form of prayer was used by the patriarchs such as Jacob or Moses. We find it, not only in the Old Testament, but also in the New Testament. According to the law, priests were doomed to this task (Numbers 6:23 / 27).

On many occasions we are exhorted to bless : "But I say to you, Love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who mistreat you and persecute you" (Matthew 5.44) or (Luke 6:28).

The apostles, Paul or Peter, remind us of this : "Do not do evil for evil, or insult for evil : bless, on the contrary, for that is what you were called to inherit the blessing." (Peter 3.9).

These words of Peter remind us that the prayer of blessing is not only a source of blessing for others, but also a source of blessing for those who practice it.

We sometimes pray to God and ask him to bless this or that person, this or that situation. Through these texts, God invites us to bless these people or situations ourselves. Instead of telling someone, "God bless you," say : "I bless you in the name of the Lord." Certainly, we can only bless with one name : the name of the Lord. In His name, when our lives are His, and we stand on the ground of His grace, we can bless. There is no pretension in this, there is only the implementation of the grace which God grants us in Christ.

Remember that all of you who are Christ, you serve as priests : "Ye are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, an established people, that you may proclaim the virtues of him who Has called you from darkness to his admirable light" (1 Peter 2: 9) and (Revelation 1: 6).

In the church of Jesus Christ there are no clergy and laymen, as we sometimes hear; There is only one body, it is that of Christ, composed of all the believers, who are all priests. So every believer is able to do this blessing prayer.

An encouragement for this day :

Brothers and sisters, you who are with Christ, exercise your ministry as priests by blessing your families, your children, your neighbors, your brothers and sisters, the various ministries that Christ gives to the church ...

Paul Calzada