Christian Pure

Prayers for Blessings and Favor, and a Blessing to Pray Over Others

Christian Pure Team

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Summary

  • In the Bible a blessing is the good God gives, and favor is his kindness and grace toward a person. Luke’s word for favor in Luke 2:52, charis, is the New Testament’s word for grace.
  • The priestly blessing of Numbers 6:24-26, “The LORD bless thee, and keep thee”, can be prayed over a child, a friend or a guest, by name, with a hand on the shoulder if it is welcome.
  • Many Jewish parents bless their children every Friday evening with words taken from this blessing, and the Catholic Catechism teaches that “every baptized person is called to be a ‘blessing,’ and to bless”.
  • God’s favor is not a promise of money or success, and a hard time does not mean it has gone (Romans 8:35-39).
  • You can ask God for a day, an exam or a plan to go well, with James’s condition: “If the Lord will” (James 4:15).
  • The twelve prayers ask for everyday blessings: guidance, strength, gratitude, peace at home, healing, forgiveness, faith for loved ones, courage, unity, generosity, protection and joy.

A prayer for blessings and favor asks God for his good in your life, or in someone else’s, and leaves it to him to decide what that good will be. In the Bible a blessing is the good God gives, and favor is his kindness and grace toward a person. The oldest blessing in the Bible gives us the picture: “The LORD make his face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee” (Numbers 6:25). To have God’s favor is…

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Bibliography (Click to show)
  • Scripture in the King James Version (public domain), from BibleGateway: Numbers 6:23-26; Nehemiah 8:9-10; Psalm 5:12; Psalm 91:1-2; Proverbs 3:5-6; Proverbs 16:3; Joshua 1:9; Matthew 5:3-4; Mark 10:16; Luke 2:52; John 17:21; Acts 20:35; Romans 8:28; Romans 8:35; Romans 8:38-39; 2 Corinthians 9:7; 2 Corinthians 13:14; Ephesians 1:3; Ephesians 4:3; Philippians 4:12-13; Colossians 3:15; 1 Thessalonians 5:18; 1 Timothy 2:4; James 1:17; James 4:13-15; James 5:14; 1 John 1:9.
  • Catechism of the Catholic Church, paragraphs 1667-1676, Sacramentals, 2nd edition, 1997.
  • Tamar Fox, “Blessing the Children”, My Jewish Learning.
  • Lausanne Theology Working Group, Africa Chapter, “A Statement on the Prosperity Gospel”, Lausanne Movement, consultations of 2008 and 2009.
  • Bible Hub, Luke 2:52 interlinear and Strong’s Greek 5485, charis.

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