God Bless the Child...
 

Words are extremely powerful tools and can be used used to build up or tear down. Words can encourage or discourage, heal or wound, bless or curse. This is revealed in Proverbs 18-21, "Death and life are in the power of the tongue…", and James 3:8-10, "But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison. Therefore bless we God, even (Gr. which is) the Father; and therewith curse we men, which are after the similitude of God. Out of the same mouth proceed blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be."

Words are powerful, indeed, whether or not we ever fully comprehend this power is irrelevant. The fact remains that it places us with a tremendous responsibility to say the right things…that which will build up, encourage, heal, and bless.

Unfortunately, some have neglected their responsibility. How many have heard, "You're stupid! You're ugly! You look just like your no-good daddy...he never amounted to anything, and neither will you! Why can't you be like so and so? Get away from me, boy! Shut up and sit down...you're bothering me!” The words spoken in haste, anger, fatigue, and bitterness are remembered long after the individual is dead and gone. Though they are no longer present, their words remain for a lifetime.

The word 'bless' means to endow, favor, or enrich; a prayer, asking for divine favor; invoking God’s favor. In today’s society, a lot of time is spent on naming a child. Some parents will agonize for months, buying books on names, asking for advice, and often will make the final decision based solely on how well it fits with the last name.

This wasn't the case in days gone by. People who lived in biblical times did not have last names, so that was something that never entered into the picture. To them, a name meant something, and usually depicted the event of birth, or explained what the child was to be in life (Moses: to draw out; Samuel: asked of God; Judah: praise; Ichabod: the glory is departed). We are able to see by this that children were often blessed or cursed at birth simply by the name chosen for them.

The biblical examples of blessing were ceremonies which were for the purpose of instilling faith and committing the promises of God to their offspring. The blessings and promises were part of their inheritance, with the eldest having the right hand placed on his head.

The time of blessing was a momentous occasion, and was not something to be taken lightly. When Isaac realized that he mistakenly blessed the deceiving Jacob, he trembled greatly, and Esau sought to kill his brother over it (Genesis 27:26-31). Their mother, Rachel, connived to steal one son's blessing to give to another, not only favoring one child over another, she practically ordered Jacob to lie to his father (vs. 8-13).

Genesis 48:1-20 describes the blessing of Joseph's sons, Ephraim and Manasseh, by their grandfather, Jacob. When Jacob crossed his hands, blessing Ephraim with his right hand, it displeased Joseph, as Manasseh was the firstborn. The right hand blessing displayed the destiny of life of an individual. In extending Ephraim the right hand blessing, Jacob spoke prophetically into his life, again setting one brother before another (48:14-19). The tradition continued as a dying Jacob blessed his sons, and gave final instruction regarding his burial (49:1-33).


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Speaking prophetic words into the lives of children is powerful, and invoking the blessings of God may have far reaching effects. Sometimes the children may not even be your own…

I had a dear, dear friend who knew the significance of speaking faith and life into the heart of a young person. To completely comprehend this incident, I feel I must reveal a little bit about the character of the individual. My friend was married, with no children of her own (she graciously raised her step children as though they were her own, and they loved her as ‘mother’). She was a joy…in every sense of the word, and loved life, her family, and her God. Her talents were vast. Did you ever know anyone with a distinctive ‘flair‘? That was my friend. A gifted artist, her Sunday School class stood out above the norm, and even her great cooking exhibited this artistic ability. It seemed like everything she did, every project had her name written on it, followed by the word ‘perfection‘.

A job was never left half done…she faithfully completed every task, and it was not just done well…it was done right! Whenever her pastor called, which was often, she was ready and willing. Her unique sense of humor would show up just when I needed it most, and made for delightful company…her laugh was infectious.

The outward gifts and talents, however, could not begin to compare to the inner beauty that shown from a deep and sincere consecration to God. An intercessor, many was the time she pulled my wandering soul from the pit of destruction, and never seemed to grow weary of doing so. After lo these many years, I can still hear her voice, encouraging me to become. Our last conversation showed her sensitivity and love for me, as she wept while we discussed the direction in which the Spirit of God was leading me. There are not words to express my deep gratefulness and love for the way that she gave of herself to someone who felt so unworthy of such giving.

My friend had been ill for quite some time. The way of life leads to death, and it was evident that if God did not intervene, we were going to lose her. But, as is often the case with this type of disease, just when it seemed like it was over, she would rally, continuing the fight.

It was after one such battle that she was able to be in service on a Sunday night. I was not present with her during this difficult time, living many miles away, but can only imagine that there were times that she may not have felt up to being there, yet was there anyway. Despite pain and fatigue, I know my friend was consistently faithful.

On this particular Sunday night, the service was over, and souls were on the altar. This precious Saint of God saw a young teenaged girl praying, and kneeling beside her, began to deposit her spirit into the girl. She began to bequeath to her the talents and abilities that she was blessed with. I’m not exactly certain if one can transfer their anointing this way, but Crystal bestowed into this young girl her “divine giftedness.”

It wasn’t long after, maybe a few months, and my friend was gone. Life goes on, however, and the young girl is today a married woman, full of strength and godly character, with a child of her own. Would she have had this without that powerful woman speaking faith and gifts into her life? Perhaps, for she has always displayed a unique consecration for one so young, and is beautiful and talented in her own right. Yet I somehow believe that she has a little of my friend’s spirit in her spirit.

I believe that as Elijah passed the mantle of anointing to Elisha, so this woman passed her mantle, enabling the young woman to exceed beyond…to places in the realm of the Spirit that her mentor could not even fathom. I believe that God filled my friend up, sent her out to be a lifelong blessing, emptied her out, and took her home. One of the last great things she probably ever did was pour herself into the life of another.

When our life has ended, will it be said that we spoke life into our children? Did we encourage them to seek after God’s will for their lives? Did we bless them, on a daily basis, with words that instilled faith and trust in a God who sees and knows all, or were the children rushed out the door in the morning, without a prayer or reassuring word? For those of us who are childless, did we seek to bless the children in our lives (nieces, nephews, church kids), or did we seek for their love and favor with gifts and ‘things’, neglecting to show them the Way? Did we consistently tell them how blessed they were, or how bad they were?

The words our children receive from us will stay with them forever. They will remember words of defeat and feelings of worthlessness. The hateful yelling and fear will remain as real as the moment they first experienced it, and they may blame us for their problems, as well they should. By the same token, they can receive blessings, growing to maturity rich in self confidence and victory, understanding that they were born to fly, soaring like an eagle, living life as God ordained it to be.

The choice of what they remember and the lessons they learn is not left to the child…the choice is ours alone to make.

Let´s go around blessing people.

AMEN!! May I send a blessing to you, Mother Alvear?!

I pray a blessing of strength to your bones and joints today...may the hand of the Almighty keep you strong as you work diligently for Him.

You have blessed and encouraged SO many and it is your time to reap, Mother...may today be your day of financial, physical, and spiritual reaping, in Jesus Name!!

When I took my 12 year old niece home a few moments ago, I spoke to her about blessings on children and briefly gave her one. I don't always know why I feel certain things in certain ways, but today I feel this strongly...

Today let us speak into the children words which will bring life and hope....words which will build them up and give them confidence in themselves and in God.

And as Mother A said here yesterday, "Let's go around blessing people!!"

Speak a good word to someone...say something that will edify and strengthen.

People need us to encourage and love them in the Lord...:)