What do you believe and say to your loved ones every day? For orthodox Jews, on Friday evenings in their homes, the father lays his hands on his children and pronounces God’s blessings over them. No wonder Jewish children grow up to be winners in the fight of life! They become some of the world’s greatest inventors, bankers, musicians and entertainers.
Although a minority race, the Jews have produced the most number of Nobel Prize winners. I believe that it is because they bless their children in the same way the patriarchs of the Old Testament did. Abraham, Isaac and Jacob released God’s blessings upon their children by laying hands on them and speaking forth the blessings (see Genesis 27:27–29, 38–40; 48:14–16).
In the New Testament, the apostles pronounced blessings over the churches they were preaching to. To the church in Philippi, Paul declared, “And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:19). John released a powerful blessing upon Gaius when he said, “Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers” (3 John 1:2).
Even Jesus pronounced a blessing of deliverance on the daughter of the Syro-Phoenician woman—“go your way; the demon has gone out of your daughter” (Mark 7:29). This was a blessing of deliverance by proxy. The woman took it by faith and found that her daughter was well when she reached home (see Mark 7:30). Likewise, the centurion took the blessing by faith and healing came upon his servant back home (see Matthew 8:8–13).
The parents of a little girl did the same thing while worshiping in our church. Their daughter was in hospital in the final stages of cancer. When I pronounced the blessing of healing that Sunday, they received it and pronounced it over their daughter. She was soon discharged from the hospital healed!
My friend, bless your loved ones. Declare over them, “The Lord blesses you and surrounds you with His favor as with a shield.” Speak forth your own blessings by declaring, “Thank You Lord, You over supply my needs and I am in excellent health!”
"I'M HERE TO TELL YOU" EDITOR'S NOTE
Do you ever thank God for things that you don't have yet? Have you ever just known that the Lord will give you what you are asking for and thank Him in advance? That's the kind of prayer that He's looking for. This is praying in faith, praying like you believe it. The Bible says that we should pray with the faith that God hears our prayers and that He will give us what we desire when we believe it. In James it says "pray for one another, that you may be healed. The insistent prayer of a righteous person is powerfully effective". So it says pray for one another. The result? That you may be healed. The second part is interesting. A righteous person's prayers are effective... who is righteous? You are righteous! Your prayers are powerful. If you believe that Christ took your place and died for your sins, then you have His righteousness. Then your prayers are powerfully effective.Today pray knowing that God hears you, pray knowing that God will answer you. And pray knowing with the assurance that God the Father loves you, and wants the best for you. Pray like He has blessed you ahead of time.
