The Blessing

“I will pour out my Spirit on your offspring, and my blessing on your descendants.” Isaiah 44:3

Author Bruce Wilkinson and his son, David, were sitting quietly in Bruce’s living room. Suddenly David spoke up. “Dad, will you bless me?” Surprised, Bruce said, “David, you know I do bless you.” “No, Dad,” David said. “I want you to really bless me.” David stood up, walked to his father’s chair, and knelt in front of him.

Bruce was stunned, but also filled with a tremendous desire to answer his son’s request. He put his hands on David’s shoulders and began to pray—for David’s mind, health, interests, and skills, for his friendships and work, for his dreams, for every part of his life. Bruce didn’t stop until he was sure his son not only was blessed, but also felt blessed. Both father and son now say that moment deepened their relationship and gave David a new sense of spiritual confidence.

Some children spend their entire lives striving for the love, acceptance, and blessing of their parents. They suspect that their parents love them and are praying for them, yet they’ve never encountered a tangible example of this heartfelt affection and support.

Don’t let your children go through life without a blessing. Kneel down with them today and pray for the Lord’s abundance and mercy to be with them always.

Before you say good night…

Do your children feel blessed by you?

In what specific areas do your children need blessing?

Should you establish a tradition of regularly blessing your kids?

Lord, You are the Fountain and Source of every blessing. May Your blessing upon our lives flow through us to the children You have given us. Help us bless them in a way that will bring confidence, peace, and joy to their hearts. Amen.

• From Night Light For Parents, by Dr. James & Shirley Dobson
  Copyright © 2000 by James Dobson, Inc. All rights reserved.

Illustration adapted from The Prayer of Jabez Devotional by Bruce Wilkinson with David Kopp (Sisters, Ore.: Multnomah Publishers, Inc., 2001).