Mind, Body & Spirit > Prayer > Give Yourself a Blessing

Prayer

Give Yourself a Blessing
by Anne Daniel, R.N.

As you prepare yourself for work, to care for your family, to continue your daily life, remember, "you can do all things through Christ." Philippians 4:13 Take the time in the near future, like later today and give a blessing of healing, hope, love, faith, peace, encouragement, and open a window through which His holy presence can embrace you and another in a blessing. As you go forth in life, God has given you the power of blessing for, "whatsoever city or town ye shall enter, enquire who is worthy: and there abide till ye go thence. And when you come into a home, salute it. And if the home is worthy, let your peace come upon it: but if it be not worthy, let your peace return to you. And whosoever shall not receive you, nor hear your words, when ye depart out of that house or city, shake off the dust of your feet." Matthew 10:11-14 "What you have freely received, freely give." Matthew 10:8

What is a Blessing?

A blessing is a spiritual act in which you freely share your Spirit and love in your life, and share your presence, soul and energy. You encounter blessings in your life in a multitude of ways. A blessing can be given through thought, words and actions. A blessing is different than an act of kindness. Children of God perform acts of kindness. God gives blessings through his children on Earth. Blessings can release concerns, restore faith, and so much more so that you and the recipient of the blessing can experience a peace grounded in the understanding that God's plan is for a purpose that blesses you and all involved. As you now begin to feel called to give a blessing to yourself, someone or thing, know that "everyday the Lord will bless you." Psalm 145:2

While teaching a small class recently on how to give a blessing, a young man came and confided to me that he thought that if he blessed himself, that act would be arrogant. I smiled and responded to him with a question. You pray for yourself do you not? When you are in need of guidance, when you give thanks? His answer, "yes, I pray for myself." When you give a blessing to yourself, this spiritual act is you praying for a blessing for you.

What do I Bless?

• Bless yourself
• Bless another person or group of people
• Bless a place
• Bless a thing
• Bless an Activity
• Bless the works of the World
• Bless a pet

How do I give a Blessing?

You can give a blessing to anyone or anything at anytime.

"The Lord will guide you continually." Isaiah 58:11. There is a divine plan unfolding in your life. Knowing that God is your guide and inspiration, begin to look at the family, friends and acquaintances in your life and realize how you may better serve. Look and listen and you will feel and know when and how a blessing is appropriate.

I wonder just how delightfully surprised you will be when you realize how capable and confident you are becoming now, even more as you are filled with the Spirit of God. You can bless at any step of the way along your journey.

When blessing, keep it simple.

Informal Blessings: There are informal blessings such as a silent prayer, a hug, a smile, a donation to someone in need, a word of comfort, a touch, a simple and genuine thanks for someone or thing. Bless your house for protecting and keeping you safe. Bless your car for fine service and reliability. Bless the mailman for keeping you connected to others in the world. Bless your teacher or minister for their dedication and caring for the individual lives they mold each day. Bless yourself for a job well done, for taking care of your body, God's creation.

Formal Blessings: Formal blessings usually take place during special times in an individual's life. Formal blessings exist such as a special prayer service or invocation or ceremony. Formal blessings are common during church services, religious holidays, celebrations, before meals, and Christenings, as well as healing ceremonies for individuals that are ill. A coach of a sports team may perform blessings before games. New homes and new marriages can be blessed as well. Formal blessings are considered part of life when life begins and when life ends. As we wish loved ones God's speed on their souls journey home a special blessing can be performed.

Accept others as they are.

As you bless yourself and other creations of God, remember a time in the past when you felt really compassionate towards someone. As you recall that memory, make that feeling of compassion that you are feeling now bigger, brighter and closer to you, movie screen size as you remember that memory in your mind's eye. As you hold that wonderful memory in your mind, begin to recall a different time in your life when you were especially caring and nurturing to someone or thing. As you experience the feelings of how it felt to be so caring and nurturing, then and there, combine that feeling of compassion with this feeling of caring and nurturing in your mind, body and heart. Allow this new feeling to grow inside you even more now. Finally remember a time in the past when you felt love and respect for all things created by God. Make this picture of the memory movie screen size, full of color, wonderful sounds and bring those feelings of love and respect for all things, compassion and caring and nurturing feelings inside you now.

Listen and feel with your heart, connect with your Spirit and send your loving blessing to thy neighbor as though it was thyself.

Even though there are no specific steps or rules that you must follow when blessing, it is important that you first become comfortable finding and focusing on the connection and relationship that you have inside you with God's Spirit within you. Know that you are never alone when performing a blessing. "The words that I say to you I do not speak on my own; but the Father who dwells in me does his work." John 14:10

You will never face life all alone like an orphan for the Holy Spirit is within you always. When you need help thinking of the "right" thing to say or share or do, He is always inside you waiting for you to call on Him for help, guidance, love and much more. Jesus said, "and I will pray to the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you. I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you. " John 14:16-18

Sometimes you may be limited in your knowledge of what to say or share in a blessing. You may not know the details of what is happening with another person's life but that is not important, for the Holy Spirit knows everything. Through Him, He will help you to bless with caring accuracy. The Holy Spirit can bypass our limiting beliefs, doubts and concerns and choose what is best to bless according to the will of God. "When they bring you unto synagogues, and unto magistrates, and powers, take no thought how or what thing you shall answer, or what you shall say: For the Holy Spirit shall teach you in the same hour what you ought to say." Luke 12:11-12

As you continue to prepare yourself to give a blessing, clear your mind of other thoughts and attune your spiritual energy inside you. As you attune yourself to become more connected to your Spirit and to the love you have in your heart, the next step is to choose who or what you are going to bless.

Each day you make hundreds of choices. Some choices are more significant for they may concern your own well being, the well being of a friend or family member, your job, or some object or chore that requires attention. So in the beginning if you have yet to know who or what to bless, turn to God in a silent prayer. For "the human mind plans the way, but the Lord directs the steps." Proverbs 16:9

A simple prayer for direction could be:

As I quiet my mind, I pray for God's direction.
As I focus on the love I freely give with all my heart, body and soul to the Lord,
I leave behind all my worries and fears as I ask God to direct my steps in my life,
my heart and in my blessings. Amen

 

Turning to God for understanding and direction creates more confidence to make the decisions that can enhance your life or the lives and things of others when receiving a blessing.

Be creative, spontaneous, and improvise when giving a blessing. Begin to pay closer attention to the details of everyday life around you and inside you. Notice what state of mind you are in at any given moment of the day. Notice what state your environment is in. Are the people and things in your life in need of anything? Are they receiving the love and praise deserved?

Once you have chosen who or what is going to be blessed, begin to activate and receive an inner focus inside yourself. Allow the love and feelings that you are going to send in the blessing to fill your heart and mind and soul, knowing that you give from the abundance of God that is inside you. Be a blessing by letting God move through you in your thoughts, words and actions now. Create and give a blessing to yourself, family, and friends as well as to the world as you are filled with the presence of God.

In your heart, mind and soul, know that the thoughts you think shape your life experience and the life experience of others. Through the grace of God, you can do all things through Christ. Because of God's grace your life and the life of others is filled with abundant blessings. "Everything is for your sake, so that grace, as it extends to more and more people, may increase thanksgiving, to the glory of God."
2 Corinthians 4:15