How To Bless (4)

Blessing others with words

Blessing is generally when we say, do, wish, or ask that something good happen to another. It can also take the form of thanking others for the good they say or do.

Blessing others with words, with the things we say, can take more forms than simply saying, “God bless you!” when someone sneezes. One of the best examples of this is in Luke 6:27-28, “Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, and pray for those who spitefully use you.” Paul repeated the words of Jesus in Romans 12:14: “Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse.”

Blessing others doesn’t mean we say good things about or encourage their sin. Blessing others means that we say or do something beneficial. And in the case of those who cause us to suffer, we say things that show we do NOT wish suffering on them, but something good.

Our words are always supposed to “impart grace to the hearers” (Eph 4:29). They are to comfort and edify (lift up, build up) others (1 Thess 5:11). This doesn’t mean that we don’t correct others, but it does mean that we are to be “speaking the truth in love…” when we are doing it (Eph 4:15). “Not returning evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary blessing, knowing that you were called to this” (1 Pet 3:9). It is our calling! It’s not easy, so here are some suggestions of blessings to say in tough situations:

“God bless you” (and mean it)
“I’ll pray for you” (and do it)
“I hope you’ll have a good day” or “a blessed day”
“I hope and will pray you find peace”
“I will pray for wisdom for both of us” (and do it)
“I really want what is best for you”
“I hope God will lead you”

It is a good habit to get in to say, “God bless you,” when it fits (goodbye, thank you, etc.). If we are already in the habit of saying it, maybe it will be easier to say it when someone doesn’t deserve a blessing – but we ask a blessing for them anyway. Because that’s our calling!                                                           dd