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Mark Virkler
We have
begun exploring the power of blessing and now want to answer
the question, "What does a blessing look like?"
This is a prophetic insight concerning the way
someone or something is supposed to be.
It may not be evident yet in the natural
realm, so we are speaking things that are not as though they were (Romans 4:17).
When we
speak a blessing over someone, we are prophetically stating: "May the
Lord grant you all of His intention for you," or, "May God's
full expectation for you be fulfilled in your life."
I don't withhold a blessing until they deserve
it or are walking in it. I call it forth, speaking it into
existence (Mark 11:23-26).
Examples
of Biblical Blessings
The
first blessing in the Bible: "God blessed them and said to them, 'Be
fruitful and multiply, and replenish the earth and subdue it. Rule over the
fish of the sea and over the birds of the air and over every living thing that
moves on the earth'" (Genesis
1:28, emphasis added).
God's
blessing upon Abraham: "I
will make of you a great nation; I will bless you and make your name
great, so that you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you and
curse him who curses you, and in you all the families of the earth will be
blessed" (Genesis
12:2,3, emphasis added).
I would
suggest it is a true principle that when we bless, we are blessed. When we
curse, we are cursed.
Every
created thing will ultimately bless Jesus, "saying with a loud voice, 'Worthy is the Lamb who
was slain, to receive power and riches and wisdom and strength and honor and
glory and blessing."
“Then I
heard every creature which is in heaven and on the earth and under the
earth and in the sea, and all that are in them, saying: 'To Him who sits
on the throne and to the Lamb be blessing and honor and glory and
power, forever and ever!'" (Revelation
5:12-13, emphasis added).
Examples
of Blessings I Can Speak
· A
blessing upon national leaders: Righteousness exalts a nation (Proverbs 14:34).
You are in a position to lift up
righteousness. Your heart is open to perceive the purposes of God and release
them to our nation (Ephesians
1:17,18).
· A
blessing upon my children: God
has created you to fulfill an important role in releasing His kingdom on earth.
You perceive and walk in all God has designed for you.
Curses
Ever?
Yes, Jesus did speak against the Pharisees as
a group (Matthew
23:1-39; John 8:39-47).
However, even in this case some within that
group, such as Nicodemus (John
3:1-15), received mercy and grace
rather than the pronounced curses.
Benefits
I Receive When I Bless Rather Than Curse
I move from discouragement to hope, from
judging to loving, from speaking death to speaking life.
I have faith for the future, which makes life
worth living once again.
Since love, compassion and blessing turn on
healing genes and turn off inflammatory genes, my health improves (Proverbs 17:22).
Since I reap a harvest in light of what I have
sowed, I reap blessings back rather than curses (Hosea 8:7; Deuteronomy 28:1-63).
What's not to like about this prayer approach
of speaking a blessing over all?
Journaling
Questions
· What
circumstance do You want me to worship You in the midst of, so Your blessing
can be released into the situation?
Mark Virkler, Ph.D., has authored more than 50 books in the
areas of hearing God's voice and spiritual growth. He is the founder of Communion
With God Ministries and Christian Leadership University (cluonline.com), where the voice of God is
at the center of every learning experience. Mark has taught on developing
intimacy with God and spiritual healing for 30-plus years on six continents.
The message has been translated into over 40 languages, and he has helped to
establish more than 250 church-centered Bible schools around the world.
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